BEHAVIOURAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL MATTERS PARENTING – LET’S DO THIS!
By Lori Kempe
Whoever said parenting is easy was never a parent! But we’ve got you! Children First provides services for families with children up to six years of age who are at risk for, or experiencing, behavioral, developmental or mental health challenges. It was founded on the knowledge that the early years of life are crucial to the healthy development of children and families.
The early years are not always the easiest years as sometimes little children have BIG emotions.
Every parent has experienced it — whether it may have happened in the grocery store or on the bus.
Their emotion is BIG, but it is our response as adults that matters.
The best reaction is to remain calm. Yep, easier said than done.
Self-regulation is taking a moment between a feeling and action, to think how you will respond to a situation. Take that moment.
It’s hard to do especially if the BIG emotion is in the middle of the candy aisle at the grocery store and everyone is staring at you!
Remain calm. Take a few deep breaths. Count to five. Stay close to your child as they need to know you are there.
Think about the emotion your child is likely feeling. Acknowledge the feeling.
Get down to their level so you can support them and name the feeling by stating: “I can see you are sad, and that’s okay.”
Be kind to yourself if this doesn’t work the first time. Remember, parenting isn’t easy! Self-regulation takes practice.
Children learn how to respond to situations by watching how the adults in their life respond and work through their emotions. Doing this with your child takes practice.
Again, just be kind to yourself if you don’t get it right. You got this!
Children First provides services to families in their homes, child care centres, other childhood settings, and at the agency. We believe that children learn best in a secure and familiar environment with their parents and caregivers supporting them.
EarlyOn Child and Family Centres are an excellent resource for families as they offer free high-quality programming for parents and caregivers with children from birth to six years old.
They also help connect families to other services in the community, like Children First, or make referrals to health professionals.
To find a Windsor Essex EarlyOn location nearest you go to: CityWindsor.ca and search “EarlyON Child and Family Centres”.
The services provided by Children First are voluntary and at no cost to the family.
Whether you have a small concern or a big challenge, they are there for you. For a referral please visit online.
Lori Kempe is the Executive Director of Children First in Windsor and the Executive Lead, Child and Youth Mental Health Lead Agency at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. Lori and her husband, Geoff, are the proud parents of two boys, Jacob and Jaxon.