Being a parent is probably one of the most challenging yet rewarding jobs you can ever undertake. Not only are you constantly trying to give your child the best life has to offer, but you also continuously try and instill the values and ideals into them in order for them to one day be able to navigate through life on their own.

Many parents have attested to the unknown that comes with raising a child and how you never know whether what you’re doing is even the correct way of doing it. The first thing you should do is pat yourself on the back; odds are you’re doing great! Nobody knows your child better than you do, and you may not even be noticing it, but you are giving your child exactly what they need – it’s your instincts helping you out! But, once in a while, your child may be going through a challenging time in their life, whether it be academically, socially, or emotionally, and you may be wondering what exactly it is they need from you. That said, here are some tips on how to support your child when going through a challenging time.

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Relate

Whatever your child is going through, they need someone to tell them that they’re not alone and that other people have been through it and came out the other end successfully. You may feel the urge to immediately jump into control mode and start handing out advice that you one hundred percent know will sort out the problem, but it may not be what they need at that stage in time. Instead, start with levelling with them by sharing something similar you went through and slip your advice in by saying how you handled it. This will give them some guidance yet allow them to make a decision themselves, which is excellent because every child will need to have adequate decision-making skills for every stage in their life going forward.

Offer help

Say your child is experiencing a challenging time at school, or you even feel as if the school isn’t a good fit for your child’s needs, offering them a few avenues to consider may make them feel as if there is light at the end of the tunnel instead of sitting in the dark with nowhere to go. You may offer them options like getting a tutor, switching to an Independent private school, or seeing a counsellor, for example – this will not only open doors for them but also include the both of you in the process and make them feel less alone. When facing a hard time, a child may start to feel alone in their struggle, and offering them help will take that loneliness away and replace it with a feeling of support and unity.

Be the cheerleader

All challenges require encouragement, and your child needs a personal cheerleader to whisper those positive reinforcements into their ears; that’s you! Failure is very personal to a child who is still developing and finding themselves in this world, which is why constant motivation from your side can be that little push they need not to give up and see whatever they’re going through to the end and achieve success. Phrases like “I struggled with this too” and “keep trying, you’re so close!” will not only encourage them significantly and boost their confidence but also make them feel as if they’re not the only person in the world who has had the same problem.

Your child is your most prized possession, and it’s never easy to see them going through a tough time – cheer them on every step of their way; it’ll mean more to them than you’ll ever know!

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*This is a collaborative article