When your child is struggling, this can be heartbreaking. You may not understand exactly how to help him or her. You may not understand why your child is struggling so much. The most important thing you should remember is to be empathetic. A few tips to follow include:
Treat your child the way he or she needs to be treated.
Avoid making assumptions. Ask for clarification instead.
Leave your frustrations at the door and avoid passing judgment.
Begin every statement with “I” instead of “you” to avoid being accusatory.
Do not immediately try to fix everything. Try to understand it first.
Always take a deep breath, pause for a second, and think before you respond.
Always ask questions that are open-ended.
Make sure you are an active listener by engaging in the conversation.
Always validate the feelings of your child.
If you keep these steps in mind, you will show empathy to your child, placing him or her in the best position possible to be successful. Learn more about how to show empathy when your child is struggling with this article on Understood.org!