Even kids get to be lonely, and this usually happens when they get the feeling that they do not fit in or that the people around them do not understand them.
Loneliness is experienced by everyone, and the young ones are not an exemption.
In fact, loneliness is said to be a crucial problem that can lead children to immediate and long-term negative consequences. According to Mental Help, it is only recently that research and intervention in educational settings focused on young children who are lonely, and it has been discovered that many of the young ones actually understand the concept of loneliness and report the feeling of loneliness.
When kids get lonely, they lose interest in their favorite activities or suddenly would throw tantrums.
Worse, these young ones can lose sleep or have trouble sleeping and can act out on things that they normally would normally cope or deal with easily.
Loneliness can be as unhealthy and dangerous for children as it can be for adults. Thus, parents should know what to do and how to handle the kids when they are lonely.
How to help the kids understand and lessen loneliness
Here are suggested ways by experts on how parents can guide and support their children in figuring out the feeling of loneliness and overcoming it as reported by News 18.
1. Give more attention
Kids between 3 to 4 years old do not mind interacting with other children as long as their parents are giving them the attention they long for. Thus, parents are encouraged to always find time for their children despite their hectic schedule. Make sure that the family will always have quality time together, where kids get undivided attention. It is also important that discipline involves proper communication and not just scolding, and appreciation and praises are given when they do the right things.
2. Comfort the kids through showing affection
Parents' affection helps children feel they are wanted and parents' touch has the ability to calm children and connect with them. So to all parents, it is significant that they can cuddle, hug and hold their children.
3. Help kids socialize
Allow the young ones to spend time with their friends, whether at home where they can share and play with their toys or outside like the park or day care where they can be introduced to new friends.
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4. Be available
Parents need to give their kids the assurance that they are always there for them, available when they are needed, willing to set aside other things because they are the priority.
Make sure to tell the kids that they are loved, and show that by being present when they want to talk or share something, listening when they want to express their thoughts and feelings, or by playing with them or reading books to them. These are utterly important especially if the children are lonely because they feel invisible or rejected.
Oftentimes, parents want to "immediately jump into problem solving mode" when their kids are having an issue. However, slowing down and listening to them are always way better, Child Mind Institute shared.
Giving children the safe space to open up and feel heard lets them know that they are being cared for, that their emotions matter and they can be honest about them, and that they can always turn to their parents whenever they need help.
"If we don't give them space to just talk, we might be coming up with a solution that's not really a good fit for the actual problem," Dr. Bethany Vibert, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, emphasized.
Time is spelled as love, especially for children and love is being there beside them - seen, felt, heard. Loneliness won't have space in their hearts when they are filled with moments and memories shared with their parents, family and friends.
Related Article: Helping Your Child to Deal With Rejection
