Crying too easily / Overly sensitive
Before You Begin
Pause and breathe. Even if this shouldn't be happening... accept that it is and embrace it with composure and calmness.
Calmness is the only way forward because without calm, there is no possibility for receptiveness and connection. Your child won't give to you any more than they see from you.
Never forget that a strong connection is fundamental, as there will be no correction in them if there is no connection with you.
The Core Problem
Dealing with a negative emotion with an engrained automatic response and no in-the-moment thinking.
What Will Make It Worse
Reacting with impatience, dismissiveness, or invalidation of their feelings when the child cries or displays sensitivity will worsen the situation.
Dismissing their emotions might reinforce their feelings of being overwhelmed or hopelessness.
What The Child Needs
1. To break the behavior pattern with better emotional regulation skills: Help them identify and manage their feelings effectively. Discuss strategies the child can use to manage their emotions, such as in-the-moment problem solving, deep breathing, taking breaks, mindfulness, or talking about their feelings with a trusted adult.
2. To develop a more constructive communication approach: Encourage the child to communicate their feelings and concerns openly but calmly. They are allowed to feel the way they do but they must choose to be more helpful and less escalatory in explaining what is causing them to feel that way.
3. Strengthened Resilience: Help the child develop a sense of resilience by praising their efforts in coping with challenges and encouraging them to keep trying even when things feel difficult.
4. Emotional safety: Provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for the child to express their feelings verbally without fear of criticism or punishment. Express empathy for challenges they may be facing, and that you are there to support them.
How To Have The Conversation With Your Child
Find a private room, free of distractions, where the child feels comfortable to talk freely.
Encourage them to share their past experiences of what triggers this behavior. Ask open-ended questions to understand their perspective better.
Use empathy and active listening to show that you genuinely care. Avoid judgment and criticism during the conversation.
Even if it doesn't all happen in one conversation, start acting on the provided list of items that the child needs.
Ideally, you are helping them to develop a new and better behavior pattern of: 1. Pause, 2. Calm, 3. Think, 4. Do whatever will address the situation best.