It would be great if everything in life was certain. If we knew what was going to happen, we could relax and let events take place. We would have no worries and wouldn’t have to handle uncertainty and the feelings that go with it. Unfortunately, life is not like that and, when we put something out into the world, we don’t always know what is going to come back to us.
Because children don’t have the life skills to deal with uncertainty, they have to learn how to cope with the unknown early on. The unknown includes taking exams and waiting for results, the next steps of a fallout with a friend or eagerly anticipating the outcome of an audition or trial.
Uncertainty weaves its way into various aspects of their lives in different ways. Waiting for exam results can be stressful, as children go over and over in their head what they answered, what they did not answer, and what that could mean for their future.
An argument with a friend can leave them feeling hopeless, out of control and unsure if the friendship will ever be repaired.
Auditioning for a role fills them with hope and also trepidation, as they wait to see how well they have done and what that means for their future.
There are so many situations where children find themselves overwhelmed, especially when a decision is out of their hands. So what can they do about it?
How To Handle These Feelings And Situations
- Encourage them to express their feelings openly, whether through journaling, art, or conversations with trusted individuals. Acknowledging emotions can help them.
- Suggest mindfulness and staying grounded in the present moment. Engaging in activities they enjoy can provide temporary relief from worrying about the future.
- Encourage children to reach out to their friends and you as their parents for support, so they don’t feel alone.
- Help children to understand that uncertainty is a natural part of life and that setbacks are opportunities for growth. Setting realistic expectations can buffer them against disappointment.
- Teach children coping strategies if they feel overwhelmed, such as deep breathing exercises or visualisation techniques, and help them find something to distract themselves instead of festering.
By empowering children to use these ideas, we are helping them to be more resilient and have a more positive mindset to get them through the ‘waiting period’.
If your child could benefit from learning to be more resilient please give me a call to talk about how life coaching for children can help.
