The attitude of parents who do not understand their children’s feelings often causes conflict in the family. This is only natural, seeing that family is the first social environment for children that can influence their growth and development. It will have an impact on their personality that continues into adulthood.
Why parents don’t understand their children’s feelings?
The tendency of parents to ignore their children’s feelings and emotional development when they are growing up can affect the child’s mental health condition.
This condition is often called childhood emotional neglect, a condition which often happens if parents fail to meet their children’s emotional needs. Here are some of the most common reasons why parents don’t understand their child’s feelings.
- Too busy
The ultimate reason why parents don’t understand their children’s feelings is because they are too busy with their work. Especially working parents, most time only focus on their activities without being directly involved in child care. As a result, parents cannot meet the emotional needs of their children. This is what often triggers emotions and conflicts between parents and children.
One way that could be done to understand children’s feelings better is by understanding the importance of spending time with children, such as playing, chatting, or just showing affection to them.
- Lack of communication
As explained before, it is very important to spend time with your children. Spending time together can create bonds that will help build smooth communication between parents and children. After smooth communication is established, children will feel comfortable and able to be more open to their parents. This connection will help parents to understand their children’s feelings better.
Conversely, if communication is lacking, it becomes difficult for the parents to understand the feelings of their children.
- Lack of self-understanding
Parents’ lack of understanding of their children’s emotions can be attributed to their own lack of self-understanding. It is crucial for parents to first comprehend themselves to better grasp their child’s feelings.
- Implement a hereditary parenting style
The adoption of hereditary parenting styles further contributes to this issue. Most parents assume that what worked for their generations will work for their children also, disregarding the fact that each child possesses a unique personality. Parents and children reside in different eras, rendering outdated parenting styles like neglectful parenting ineffective in the present time. Instead, parents should tailor their parenting approach to their child’s individuality and adapt to the current trends.
What are the consequences if parents fail to understand their children’s feelings?
Children who experience emotional neglect by their parents can have a lingering trauma even until they grow up which then contributes to their personality as an adult. Some of the impacts that can happen are as follow
- Lack of self-compassion
The children tend to easily get angry and disappointed in themselves because they have standards that are too high to fulfill. Likely to feel inferior and criticize themself endlessly when compared to others.
- Unable to fit in
Children who experience neglect from their parents are more likely to feel that they don’t fit in in any social circle, be it family or friends. When they socialize, they tend to feel uncomfortable and try to distance themselves from those closest to them.
- Fail to understand their own needs & feelings
Another sign of a child’s lack of parental attention is they find it difficult to recognize what they really need and make plans for their lives. They will also find it difficult to understand their own feelings. They might not be able to control their emotions when they are angry or sad.
- Have higher stress levels
Because stress in children usually arises as a result of the accumulation of their inability to express feelings and emotions properly.
What can parents do to understand children’s feelings better?
If you want to be a parent who is close to their child, and able to have open communication and maintain a closer relationship, then there are some things you can do. Follow the important secrets below if you want to establish good communication and relationship with your children as they grow up.
- Help your child to understand their feelings, be it happiness, sadness, or anger – justify any feelings which they show.
- Ask children to convey what makes them upset or sad, that way you can more easily assist children to express and manage their emotions.
- Show sympathy by asking about the problem they were experiencing and reassure them that you will always be there to help.
- Help the child to accept the situation and try to let go of an incident and other people’s behavior that makes them upset or angry.
- Show your love to your children by giving gifts for a job well done, or encouraging words when your children are feeling low. You can get your hands on the best gift for your children by shopping at Temu. This latest online shopping platform will definitely have something to uplift your little one feeling.
Sharon Howe is a creative person with diverse talents. She writes engaging articles for WonderWorldSpace.com, where she works as a content writer. Writing allows Sharon to inform and captivate readers. Additionally, Sharon pursues music as a hobby, which allows her to showcase her artistic abilities in another creative area.