It’s a universal truth that parenting is a learning experience.

Many parents who have difficulty connecting with their children or understanding their behaviors think that they are failing as caregivers. In a social media-filtered world, parents often find themselves questioning themselves and their abilities. Rest assured self-doubt, fear, and confusion are all natural parts of parenthood.

And while you’re throwing your hands in the air, your child is likely experiencing similar emotions. We live in a highly-stimulating world that can be too much for a child to interpret because developmentally, they are not on the same level as you and I. Children simply don’t have the capacity to process and manage the complexities that can make this world so intimidating. Therefore, they can’t articulate their pain either.

Life transitions can be especially stressful on children.

Change can add even more complexity to navigating the responsibilities and challenges that parents face when raising child. Sometimes parents may not recognize life transitions as “triggers” for a change in their child’s affect or behavior – and more often then not, children lack the experience, understanding and communication skills to express how they’re feeling. As a result, the fear and uncertainty that your child may be experiencing can manifest as anger, defiance, sadness, or fear. Moreover, if you have a child that suffers from anxiety, depression, or childhood trauma, their behavior could be misinterpreted as mere disobedience or acting out. In reality, your child is likely asking for help the only way they know how.

Examples of stressful life changes may include:

• Going to school

• Moving

• Birth, death or illness of a loved one

• Changes in relationships (e.g. divorce)

The benefits of child therapy

Therapy is a wonderful tool for healing, but that doesn’t mean that your child has to suffer from something serious to benefit from therapy. Reaching out for help now as an act of preventative maintenance can outfit your child with greater self-awareness and skills for succeeding on their own. Therapy can also enable you to identify the true source of your child’s challenges so that you can meet them head-on with strategies that really work.

Getting started

Therapy can help you as a parent reduce your stress, instill greater peace in your home, and ensure your child’s healthy development. To schedule an appointment, Thrive Postpartum, couples and Family therapists be reached by text or phone at 224-698-9792. Alternatively you can also schedule an appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you.