7 Reason Your Child May be Crying-kIds Parenting Guide
You are not alone if you've ever had a child scream because the microwave "devoured" their lunch, or if you've ever had a tantrum start after informing your child, that they can't eat dog food. Children invent some unique reasons to cry. Here are explained the reasons why your child may be crying-useful parenting guide and tips.
While it can be
perplexing at times, crying can be beneficial at any age. According to a 2011
study published in the Journal of Research and Personality, crying can help
people feel better in a variety of situations. 1 People feel better after
weeping if they have emotional support, if crying leads to a resolution or
improved understanding, or if they are sobbing because of a happy occurrence,
according to researchers.
It isn't always necessary to try to get your youngster to stop crying. Shedding a tear.
1
Your Child Is Overtired
When your child has
a meltdown because you gave them the wrong color bowl or asked them to put on
their shoes, it's possible that their tears are due to a lack of sleep.
Overtiredness is one
of the most common causes of children crying. Tantrums and other seemingly
unreasonable behavior might result from a lack of sleep.
You can't always
prevent a child's tantrum-inducing exhaustion, but you can reduce it by keeping
them on a regular sleep schedule.
Begin by
establishing (and keeping to) an age-appropriate bedtime, then add in naps
during the day. Plan on two naps per day until your child is 15 to 18 months
old, then one nap per day until your child is about 18 months old.
2
Your Child Is Hungry
Even grown-ups get
"hungry." Unless they are having too much fun playing, a toddler or young
child will (usually) inform you when they want a snack. It's far more difficult
to discern if a youngster is hungry if they are distracted and not talking with
you.
If your child has
just woken up from a nap or it has been three to four hours since they last
ate, hunger could be the cause of their fussing. Offer your youngster a bite to
eat if they haven't eaten in a while and their mood is rapidly deteriorating.
When you're out of the house, keep a few healthful snacks on hand to help you
stop crying.
3
Your Child Is Overstimulated
A child's favorite
places to be our exciting play areas such as bouncy houses or birthday
celebrations. However, for some children, the commotion can become too much at
times. In these instances, it's not uncommon for a child to be unable to
explain what's wrong.
When your youngster
is overstimulated, you may notice tears. If your child is weeping for no
apparent reason and you're in a noisy or busy environment, try giving them a
break. Allow them to sit for a few minutes outside or in a quieter place to regain
their bearings.
A break may not be
enough for some children. It's possible that your child is upset and isn't
being consoled or comforted.
4
Your Child Is Stressed
Stress is a big
reason for tears, particularly in older children. As a parent who must pay the
bills and run a busy household, you might wonder what a child must be stressed
about.
The answer is a lot
of things! Kids who are overscheduled—perhaps going from soccer to piano to
play practice to playdates—can become quite stressed. All kids need free time to play
creatively,
as well as to relax.
Kids can also become
stressed from what’s going on around them, such as trouble in their parents’
marriage, a move or school change, or even events they overhear on the nightly
news. A child might become an uncharacteristically teary child if they're feeling
the burden of stressful life events—even those that do
not directly involve them.
Younger children who
are stressed will need an adult's help in changing the environment. By helping
them reduce stressful circumstances, you're also giving them a chance to learn
to manage their emotions.
Older children can
benefit from learning skills to manage stress. From deep breathing and
meditation to exercise and leisure activities, healthy stress reduction
activities will help your child gain control over their emotions.
5
Your child craves your attention.
Tears sometimes seem to appear
out of nowhere. Your child is happily playing for one minute, and then you look
around for a second and they are sobbing.
Weeping is an effective means of attracting your attention, as your child is aware. Even if it is unfavorable, a child's behavior is promoted by attention. It may encourage your child to continue throwing tantrums if you say things like "Stop shouting" or "Why are you crying now?"
When at all feasible, ignore attention-seeking
conduct. When your youngster is asking for your attention, avoid making eye
contact and don't start a discussion. When kids don't have a captive audience,
they'll eventually realize it's not fun to throw a tantrum or scream loudly.
Show your child that
they can get your attention by playing nicely, using kind words, and following
the rules. Offer frequent praise for these behaviors
and your child will be less likely to try and use tears to capture your
attention.
Give your child
regular doses of positive attention. Set aside a few minutes
every day to get down on the floor with them, play a game, or toss a ball back
and forth. Your child will be less likely to cry for attention if you give them
a few minutes to be in the spotlight every day.
6
Your Child Wants Something
Young kids don't
understand the difference between wants and needs. When they
want something, they often assert they need it—and right now. Whether they insist on playing with a
breakable heirloom or want you to take them to the park, tears of
disappointment and desperation are bound to happen.
If you cave after
saying no, either out of guilt or because you can't stomach hearing more
sobbing, you're teaching your child that tears may be used to control you.
While showing
empathy is important, don't let your child's tears influence your actions. Say
something like, "I understand you're upset right now," or "I'm
sorry we won't be able to go to the park together," but emphasize that
you're a parent who keeps your word.
Proactively teach
your child socially appropriate ways to deal with their feelings when they
aren't getting something that they want. Coloring a picture, saying, “I’m
really sad,” or taking a few deep breaths are a few coping skills that might
help them deal with uncomfortable emotions.
7
Your Child Wants to Escape a Demand
You might notice the
waterworks if your child truly doesn't want to do something, like put away
their toys or get ready for bed. These tears could be real sadness on the part
of the youngster, or they could be a ruse. Your child can put off doing
something they don't want to do if you engage with them, even if it's only for
a minute.
"I know it's
hard to clean up your toys when you want to keep playing," you can remark
to validate your child's feelings. Simultaneously, avoid engaging in a lengthy
debate or a power struggle.
Offer one warning, if necessary, that outlines
what consequences your child can expect if they do not comply. Try saying
something like, “If you don’t pick up the toys right now, then you won’t be
able to play with them after lunch.” If your child doesn’t comply, follow
through with a consequence.
It’s important to
teach your child that they can still follow the rules even though they feel sad or angry. Each time your child gets upset over a demand you've made, it’s an
opportunity to help them learn to take positive action even when they are
feeling bad.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consult your pediatrician
if your child is crying more than you believe is normal or cannot be consoled. An
underlying medical issue, such as an untreated ear infection causing pain, can
sometimes be the source of a child's persistent crying. 2
Once you've
established that everything is in order physically, you may work together to
reduce your child's weeping. Sometimes the solution is straightforward. When
your child begins to cry, which is certain to happen from time to time, they
may simply want some time to settle down.
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