How to Help Children Develop Emotional Strength

The emotional strength of children makes them resilient and gives them the courage and confidence they need to reach their maximum potential. In this article, we'll offer 10 suggestions for building up your child's emotional strength.
How to Help Children Develop Emotional Strength

Last update: 16 May, 2018

By providing your children with the tools they need to face different situations in life, you’ll reinforce their emotional strength.
.
As a mother, you must keep in mind that children who are strong mentally are prepared to take on all sorts of challenges.

In fact, these children are capable of addressing issues, overcoming failure, and dealing with all sorts of difficulties.

At the same time, helping children develop their emotional strength requires a three-part focus. 

First, adults must teach children to replace negative thoughts with more realistic ones.

At the same time, parents must work with children to help them control their emotions.

And lastly, mothers and fathers must teach children how to take positive measures.

10 suggestions to help children develop emotional strength

There are many strategies, discipline techniques and teaching tools that help children develop emotional strength.

Below we’ll offer 10 suggestions that will help you build up his or her emotional strength:

1. Teach specific abilities

The first suggestion for boosting the emotional strength of children is teaching them to do things better next time.

In other words, rather than focusing on their mistakes, encourage your child by focusing on how to do things differently next time and achieve better results.

Apply consequences that teach specific abilities, like problem solving, impulse control and self-discipline.

This set of abilities will help your child learn to behave in a productive way, even when facing temptations of difficult circumstances.

2. Allow your child to make mistakes

Teach your child that errors are part of the learning process. That way, your child won’t feel ashamed when he or she makes a mistake.

At the same time, allow your child to face the natural consequences of his or her actions, as long as it’s safe.

For example, if your child throws a toy and it breaks, rather than rushing out to buy a replacement, you can talk to your child about the importance of caring for our belongings.

If your child is old enough to understand the concept of money, he or she can save up to buy a new toy, if desired. Of course, allowing your child to suffer the natural consequences of running into traffic would not be safe.

In any case, talk with your child about avoiding making the same mistake in the future .

How to Help Children Develop Emotional Strength

3. Help your child develop healthy self-talk

It’s hard for children to feel their emotional strength when they suffer humiliation or face constant criticism

It’s important to teach little ones to reconsider these negative thoughts so they can think more realistically. 

Developing a perception that is both objective and at the same time optimistic will help your child perform to the maximum and overcome adverse situations.

4. Encourage your children to face their fears

If your children avoid doing something that frightens them, they’ll never gain the confidence that allows them to feel uncomfortable. Therefore, it’s good to help your little ones face these kinds of situations. 

Encourage them, praise their efforts and reward them for being brave. This will motivate your children to get out of their comfort zone and give them the confidence to go after their goals.

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think”
–Margaret Mead–

5. Allow your children to feel uncomfortable

Although coming to your child’s aid every time you see them having difficulties is tempting, it’s not always the right thing to do.

Constantly coming to your child’s rescue will only reinforce the idea that he or she is helpless .

Allowing children to lose teaches them to take responsibility for their actions and achieve better results.

Keep in mind that, with support and guidance, this type of situation will help your child develop emotional strength.

6. Promote the building of character

Children need a strong moral reference in order to make healthy decisions. As a mother, you should work hard to instill good values in your children.

For example, you can impart good morals when your child takes part in a competition. Emphasize the importance of concepts like honesty and compassion rather than promote winning at any cost.

7. Make gratitude a priority

Gratitude is a wonderful remedy for self pity and other bad habits that impede your child’s mental strength. It can also improve your child’s mood and encourage a proactive solution to his or her problems.

You can help your children learn to value the good things that happen. That way, even on bad days, they’ll be able to appreciate all that they have to be thankful for.

8. Reaffirm your children’s sense of personal responsibility

Developing mental strength involves accepting personal responsibilityTherefore, allow your children to provide explanations when they make a mistake or misbehave – but don’t accept excuses .

It’s also a good idea to correct your children if they try to blame others for how they think, feel or hehave.

How to Help Children Develop Emotional Strength

9. Teach your children abilities that help them regulate their emotions

Don’t calm your children when they’re angry, nor try to cheer them up when they’re sad.

Rather, teach your little ones to deal with uncomfortable feelings in such a way that your children don’t depend on you to regulate their emotions .

Children that understand their feelings and know how to face them are better prepared to take on challenges.

10. Promote mental strength

Speak with your children about their personal goals and aid them in taking steps to become stronger. Help make self-improvement and mental strength a priority in their lives

In short, the discovery of children’s emotional strength occurs through a process of learning and reflection.

Applying the above advice with your children will help them exercise emotional strength as well as develop positive and creative thoughts. 

This will help them act wisely in the face of different situations in life.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.