When Your Child is Frustrated

It can be difficult, for many reasons, for parents to watch their child experience frustration and so they step in and take over. However, experiences and “surviving” frustration, is vital for the development of necessary resilience skills like problem-solving, persistence, and creativity

 As your child gets older their disappointment and frustration will become bigger, e.g., not doing well on a test, not getting picked to play on a team, etc.… it is how we help young children experience frustration now, that will help them to maneuver disappointment as they get older. Therefore, when your child is frustrated it is important to be encouraging and offer guidance. Be empathetic, remain calm, suggest they take a break maybe, help them experience their emotions by taking a depth breath. And Ultimately, to help them through the experience without taking over the experience.

The next time your child is frustrated, here are some helpful questions to ask yourself before you step in:

• How long have they been trying?
• Is it a skill/task they are mastering?
• Can you help without stepping in to do it for them?
• How frustrated are they?
• Can you guide them with words?
• Have they asked you to step in?

In life, how we cope during moments of frustration and disappointment will be critical for success both professionally and personally. So, help your child develop these vital skills, by stepping back before stepping in.



Originally Posted When Your Child is Frustrated – Consult Allegra Blog Posts