Talking to your son or daughter about how they are feeling is very important. A few helpful tips can help make dealing with these situations easier:
For Parents:
- Spend time with your children as a family, and ask them how they have been feeling. If a concern arises about signs of depression, seek medical attention/advice.
- If your child is involved with a stressful situation give them ideas for how to deal with the situation. Examples could be getting involved in a stress relieving activity like yoga, working out, playing games, reading a book, or focusing on an activity that your child really enjoys.
For Kids:
- Get involved in an activity where you help other people. Being involved with an activity where you give your time toward helping others improves your well being, and puts some of the problems you are focusing on into perspective.
- Form good, solid relationships- not only with your parents and siblings, but with friends at school. Being around a core group of people that share your values and act as positive role models for each other is important for your overall well being.
- Remember, everyone gets angry sometimes. It is important to talk through your feelings and come up with appropriate resolutions to the conflict that has occurred. Also, it is important to try to understand the other persons point of view.
Always remember that you can talk about things that are bothering you with your Pediatrician at Pediatrix.Sincerely,
Michael Magalnick, DO, FAAP
