Adults aren’t the only ones at risk for poor mental health in Singapore. According to an article published on StraitsTimes.com, children are also vulnerable to the early stages of mental health disorders. Kids are in the process of developing the mental and emotional structure that will carry them through life. Connecting with kids when they are young and establishing a stable, strong relationship can improve their mental health later on in life.
The Need for Emotional Expression
According to a psychiatrist in Singapore, children younger than age twelve are often reticent about their emotions. “They don’t know how to talk about their feelings,” says Lee. This lack of communication can result in pent-up frustration, loneliness, or sadness – feelings that could affect their future emotional state as adults.
A psychologist in Singapore said that she often tells parents to encourage honest, open communication with their children. If parents show their love and unconditional support, their kids are more likely to open up to them when something is wrong. Establishing that foundation of trust, support, and openness while the children are young is vital to their development.
The Importance of Quality Time
Grownups are busy. They have many responsibilities to carry and a lot of tasks to accomplish every day. However, if the adults in a child’s life are always rushing past him, immersed in work, or focused on a smartphone, the child begins to feel lost and ignored.
If communication exists only on a basic level, that is insufficient to secure a child’s mental health. Asking questions like “Is your homework done?” or “Did you study for that test?” just scratch the surface. Instead, parents need to take the time to go deeper, asking, ” Did anything make you frightened or frustrated today?” or “Did you have any good experiences today that you would like to tell me about?”
If a parent isn’t spending time doing the activities that the child enjoys, the child may not feel like sharing those deeper feelings. It takes time and effort to build that bond of unconditional love and trust; and one way that parents can create that trust is by doing activities with their kids— playing with toys, reading books together, putting together puzzles, or engaging in sports at a nearby park or garden.
The Emphasis on Resilience, Not Perfection
Parents also need to avoid placing too much pressure on their children. An educational psychologist in Singapore says that he often tells parents to “manage their expectations and be mindful of what they convey to children.” Instead of an emphasis on performance and perfection, parents should instead focus on helping children learn to bounce back from failure without sinking into depression about it. Praise and unconditional support is vital to young children and teens.
The Vital Support System
Do you suspect that your child is suffering from a lack of communication or too much pressure from society and family? Get help before your child’s feelings become so intense that they affect his or her future. There’s still time to change and to improve the way that you relate to your child, with help from the expert counselors at Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic. Contact us today to set up your private consultation.
News Feed from Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic
Source: Straits Times, October 30, 2016
