Hidden Ways Children Communicate
Parenting isn’t easy. When you’re dealing with ‘mum guilt’ or trying to explain the mental load to your partner while juggling work, home, and taking care of your kids, it’s easy to lose your patience at bedtime, especially when your child says things like “I can’t sleep” or “I don’t know” in response to a simple question.
However, parent Melissa (@momtherapist) has uncovered the subtle ways children express anxiety—and it’s not as obvious as you may expect. After all, a youngster may lack the developed motor skills necessary to display the more obvious signs of worry, such as perspiration, shakiness, palpitations, or agitation.
15 Ways Kids Say They’re Feeling Anxious
- My tummy hurts
- I don’t wanna go to school
- I’m not hungry
- I hate you
- What if…what if…what if…
- I need to pee again
- I can’t sleep
- I don’t know
- My legs hurt
- I just want to stay with you
- Nobody wants to talk to me at school
- Nobody likes me
- My arms hurt
- I think I’m getting sick
- I don’t like it
RELATED: Is Your Child Showing Signs of Depression?
Parents Can Easily Mistake It For Something Else
As parents, there are moments when we fail to completely get our child’s true meaning because we are not paying close enough attention. No one should take this personally since it is a common occurrence.
After a long day, we often just want to find time to ourselves and relax. Or we just don’t have the energy to get out of bed in the morning. We tend to misinterpret their nonverbal cues and accept their words at face value.
When we discover that their claims are unfounded, we simply disregard them. Stop and observe their
