It’s perfectly normal for young children to become frustrated from time to time. However, behavioral experts note that children with learning or behavioral issues like ADHD and Asperger’s may have a reduced capacity to moderate their behavior appropriately to suit environmental cues. In other words, your child’s frustration could turn into a meltdown. Fortunately, there are ways you can teach your child how to channel these negative emotions into positive actions.
Encourage Your Child to Take a Break
When a child is very frustrated, it’s likely that his frustration level will only increase if he tries to forge ahead and complete the task at hand. Instead, encourage your youngster to take a short, productive break. However, bear in mind that a break from homework should not involve turning on the TV or playing video games. This will only create an association between a reward and the undesirable behavior. Instead, invite your child outdoors to kick a soccer ball around with you for a few minutes. Give your child a high protein snack like nuts. The power of aerobic, outdoor exercise and protein is amazing!
Discuss the Issue with Your Child
Depending on the maturity level of your child, once he has calmed down, ask him to sit down with you and explain why he is frustrated. Often children with ADHD or high functioning autism lack the ability to express their feelings. In this case acknowledge their frustration and give them an “A or B” choice to make when they feel overwhelmed. For example, “Would it be better to yell more or do you want to play your other game instead?” Encourage him use his words to tell you what’s wrong. When talking with your child, you can model good behaviors by using a calming tone of voice and exhibiting patience.
Teach your Child how to Belly Breath
Diaphragmatic breathing is a technique that we teach every parent at Brain Balance. While taking a deep breath in push your stomach out, then slowly exhale for twice as long as the inhale, pulling the belly in. Teach your child this first in a standing position. Once they have mastered it, it can be done sitting. About 5 breaths is what it takes for most kids to calm down. This serves two purposes: it is a great way to redirect a child who is about to melt down and it gets oxygen to the brain so that they make the better choice.
Remind Your Child of Past Successes
Your child may be frustrated because he is having trouble finishing a homework assignment, such as a math problem. You can restore his self-confidence by reminding him that he successfully completed his math homework the previous week, or that he scored well on a test recently. Tell your child that you are confident he can solve the problem if he is patient.
What about you? How do you help your child overcome frustration? Share by commenting below!
