How to Cheer up a Sad Child

Learning how to cope with sadness is part of growing up. For children, it can be tough to sort through all of their feelings and emotions. But you should be able to help them get through it. Even the worst situations can be overcome with support from you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Allow your child to cry, cuddle or express his emotions in some other way. Learning to appropriately express emotions is a lesson that will carry him a long way in life.
2. Talk to your child and encourage him to talk to you. Putting words to his feelings lets him sort through his grief. It may take several days of talking before your child can put this behind him.
3. Ask questions. This will help you determine the root of the sadness and if this sadness is the result of a deeper issue. Professional help is available if you feel it's necessary.
4. Remain serious. Losing a favorite toy might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to your child. If he knows that you're on his side, he'll find comfort and you'll soon see that grin again. Laughing or mocking your child could actually make his sadness worse, and it could cause other life-long emotional problems.
5. Empathize with your child. This tells your child that his feelings are legitimate and that it's okay to be sad. Once he accepts that emotion, he'll start to move on and will soon cheer up.
6. Problem solve with your child. Maybe he would want to do something nice for someone else so they don't feel sad like he is. You might be surprised what your child will come up with.
7. Teach your child not to worry about what other people think. Peer pressure can start at a young age, but you can teach your child how to be independent. Celebrate your child's differences and teach him to celebrate them too.