I was lucky it was only my third, of four, who resorted to quick tears to express her emotions?by then I had a lot of tips and tricks and a thick skin. But knowing why it happens and how to regulate it can make a difference when helping your child navigate their big feelings.
Why do some kids cry more than others"
Myla Leinweber, certified parent educator and mom of two who lives and works on the unceded territory of the Sinixt Peoples in the Kootenay region of BC, says there are factors specific to this age group, including temperament, development and coping/self-regulation strategies, that can affect a child?s tendency to cry. ?On top of the skills they?re learning to use, some kids come into the world with their feelings right at the surface,? says Leinweber. ?It?s really important to remember that it doesn?t make them a bad kid or us bad parents.? Sarah Mason, a mom of four from Oakville, Ont., experienced this with her youngest, while trying to find the right strategy for managing frequent outbursts and tears during transitions or when they set boundaries. ?You feel like you need to do something in the moment to control the behaviour and stop it immediately, because there?s an idea that you?re letting them get away with it. But it wasn?t working for us.?
Leinweber reminds parents that many preschoolers lack the language to describe what they are feeling, while others are still working on social norms and understanding how their behaviour impacts others. And, just...