Today, we are going to discuss our sixth and final, Protective Factor. This little blog series has, I hope, helped to instill some positive thoughts and actions in the parents who have taken the time to read them. These Protective Factors are so important for a healthy, developmental, and safe relationship between you and your child. So let's finish on a strong note. Today's Protective Factor #6 is:
Social and Emotional Competence of Children
What does that even mean? Well, think of it this way: in previous weeks, we have discussed how it is so important for parents to be emotionally prepared and resilient to deal with the pressures of parenting, as well as to establish good social connections with other parents in your community for support and guidance. Just as good social and emotional development is healthy for you as a parent, it is also important and healthy for your children to be socially and emotionally competent.
Just like learning to walk, talk, and read, learning the correct emotional and social tools can sometimes be a journey for children and their parents. However, children must learn to express their emotions in a healthy manner. In this way, parents are better able to respond to their children's needs, and this creates a stronger parent-child relationship (www.childwelfare.gov). When a child is incapable of expressing their social or emotional needs, they can become frustrated, which in turn will only frustrate you as a parent as well. Developing emotional self-regulation is so important for your child, as it effects their relationship not just with you as their parent, but with peers and friends as well.
Additionally, the ability of children to manage their emotions and behaviors and the ability to cultivate healthy friendships with peers, can have a greater affect on their ability to perform positively in school. In other words, healthy emotions and social capabilities better prepares your kids for academic success (Webster-Stratton,C. PhD & Reid, J. PhD. Social and Emotional Competence in Young Children - The Early Foundation for School Readiness and Success, Infants and Young Children, 17 (2). ). Teaching your children to not throw tantrums, express themselves with words, and share and interact with peers will all help ready them for succeeding in the world around them.
Parents must teach their children to learn and properly identify their emotions, as well as how to successfully express those emotions to others in a social setting. ChildWelfare.gov has some suggestions for helping parents with this important process:
- Help children understand their emotions by first giving the feelings names and then encouraging them to talk about how they are feeling.
- Use pictures, books, and other visual elements to help the child understand his or her emotions.
- Give children opportunities to suggest different ways he or she can deal with feelings.
- Teach children the different methods for responding to feelings, conflicts, or problems such as taking deep breaths, stepping away from the situation to calm down, or asking an adult for help.
- Praise the child for healthy emotional expression.
Keep up the good work all you parents out there! Utilize these 6 Protective Factors that we have been covering in the month of September. Remember, you can always contact Family Builders for thoughts and guidance anytime of the day. Enjoy the rest of your week. Here are the list of the 6 Protective Factors one more time! Happy Wednesday!
1.Nurturing and Attachment
2. Knowledge of Parenting and Child and Youth Development
3. Parental Resilience
4. Social COnnections
5. Concrete Support Services for Parents
6. Social and Emotional Competence of Children
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