Parentswhoareextremelybusyintheirworkoftenunknowinglyneglecttheirchildren.However,suchbehaviourcandeeplyaffectchildren.Herearesomewayswhichyoucanfollowtoavoidneglectingchildren.Thereisalotofscientificevidencetoshowtheemotionaldamagecausedtokidswhofeelneglectedduringtheirchildhood.Surprisinglyparentsofsuchchildrenaresometimesnotevenawarethattheyareneglectingtheirchildrenastheyaremorecaughtupwithfulfillingthematerialdemandsoflife.Emotionalneedsofchildrengounnoticedforsomeparentsandthisiswheretheissueofneglectstarts.Asaresponsibleparentyouwillobviouslywanttoprotectyourchildfromallharmandfeelingsofneglect.Theguidebelowwillhelpyouidentifyneglectandpreventit.InthisarticleCurbMorningImpatienceUnderstandyourChild’sMoodsAvoidIndifferentBehaviourNeverTreatyourChildasSecondaryGetProfessionalHelpCurbMorningImpatienceChildpsychiatristshavefoundoutthatmorningsarethetimeswhenthechildinanaveragemiddleclasshouseholdfeelsmostneglected.Thereisalotofstrife,rushingaroundandracingtogetthingsdoneinthemorning.Oftenparentsactimpatientandbrusquetowardstheirkidsastheyareoccupiedwithotherthings.Ifyouidentifywiththeabovescenariothenyoumightbeinadvertentlyneglectingyourkids.Youneedtosetapartafewmomentsinthemorningtostrengthenyourcommunicationwithyourkid.Thistimecanbespentinlovinggestures,specialroutinesorsimplesweetconversations.Thesegestureswillautomaticallymakeyourchildfeelspecialandwanted.UnderstandyourChild’sMoodsManychildrenareunabletodirectlyexpresstheirnegativefeelingsofdiscontent,sadness,loneliness,fear,unhappinessetc.Whentheyexperiencethesenegativeemotionstheybecomeemotionallywithdrawn,reclusiveormoody.Otherchildrenmaybecomeviolentandaggressive.Asaparentyouhavetomakeanefforttounderstandtherootcauseoftheproblemwhichistriggeringthisbehaviour.Ifyoudonotinterveneattheearliesttotacklethisbehaviouryouwillsoondistanceyourselffromyourchildandsetupacaseforparentalneglect.AvoidIndifferentBehaviourManyparentsresorttoignoringtheirchildasawayofpunishment.Thiskindofbehaviourmayincludebehavingwiththechildinacoldway,suspendingbenefits,notusingnormallyusedtermsofendearmentetc.Childpsychiatristssaythatthisisoneoftheworstwaysofdiscipliningthechildasitgivesbirthtofeelingsofneglect.Manychildrendevelopthefeelingthattheyareunwantedandunlovedwhenfacedwithsuchasituation.Ifyouidentifywiththeabovesituationthenitisimperativethatyoustopthiskindofbehaviourandnevereverwilfullybehaveindifferentlytowardsyourchildren.NeverTreatyourChildasSecondaryAsanadultyouprobablyhavetoprioritisework,socialcommitmentsandotherengagementssometimes.However,childrenareverysensitiveandiftheprioritisationofotheractivitieshappensregularlybeforethemtheymaystartdevelopingfeelingsofbeingneglected.Asaparentitisoneofyourprimaryresponsibilitiestomakeyourchildfeelimportant.Whenfacedwithadifficultsituationgentlyexplaintoyourchildthatwhileheorsheisveryimportanttoyouitisnecessarythatyoufinishthetaskathand.GetProfessionalHelpInmanycasesparentshavecontinuedinapatternofbehaviourforsolongthatthefeelingsofneglectinthechildbecomedeeprooted.Insuchcasesitbecomesdifficulttobreaktheparentalbehaviouralpatternsandwashawayfeelingsofneglectwithoutprofessionalintervention.Ifyoufeelthatyourequirehelpinrefiningandimprovingyourroleasaparentthendonothesitateinaskingforhelp.Contactachildpsychiatristoraparentalrelationshipcounsellor.Rememberthatthefasteryouactineradicatingfeelingsofneglectthebetteritisforthepsychologicalwellbeingofyourchildren.Whydoparentsneglecttheirchildrensometimes?Whataretheeffectsofneglectingchildren?Whatcanparentsdotoavoidneglectingchildren?Discusshere.
Parents who are extremely busy in their work often unknowingly neglect their children. However, such behaviour can deeply affect children. Here are some ways which you can follow to avoid neglecting children.There is a lot of scientific evidence to show the emotional damage caused to kids who feel neglected during their childhood. Surprisingly parents of such children are sometimes not even aware that they are neglecting their children as they are more caught up with fulfilling the material demands of life.
Emotional needs of children go unnoticed for some parents and this is where the issue of neglect starts. As a responsible parent you will obviously want to protect your child from all harm and feelings of neglect. The guide below will help you identify neglect and prevent it.
Curb Morning Impatience
Child psychiatrists have found out that mornings are the times when the child in an average middle class household feels most neglected. There is a lot of strife, rushing around and racing to get things done in the morning. Often parents act impatient and brusque towards their kids as they are occupied with other things. If you identify with the above scenario then you might be inadvertently neglecting your kids.
You need to set apart a few moments in the morning to strengthen your
communication with your kid. This time can be spent in loving gestures, special routines or simple sweet conversations. These gestures will automatically
make your child feel special and wanted.
Understand your Child’s Moods
Many children are unable to directly express their negative feelings of discontent, sadness, loneliness, fear, unhappiness etc. When they experience these negative emotions they become emotionally withdrawn, reclusive or moody. Other children may become violent and aggressive.
As a parent you have to make an effort to understand the root cause of the problem which is triggering this behaviour. If you do not intervene at the earliest to tackle this behaviour you will soon distance yourself from your child and set up a case for parental neglect.
Avoid Indifferent Behaviour
Many parents resort to ignoring their child as a way of punishment. This kind of behaviour may include behaving with the child in a cold way, suspending benefits, not using normally used terms of endearment etc. Child psychiatrists say that this is one of the worst ways of disciplining the child as it gives birth to feelings of neglect.
Many children develop the feeling that they are unwanted and unloved when faced with such a situation. If you identify with the above situation then it is imperative that you stop this kind of behaviour and never ever wilfully behave indifferently towards your children.
Never Treat your Child as Secondary
As an adult you probably have to prioritise work, social commitments and other engagements sometimes. However, children are very sensitive and if the prioritisation of other activities happens regularly before them they may start developing feelings of being neglected.
As a parent it is one of your primary responsibilities to make your child feel important. When faced with a difficult situation gently explain to your child that while he or she is very important to you it is necessary that you finish the task at hand.
Get Professional Help
In many cases parents have continued in a pattern of behaviour for so long that the feelings of neglect in the child become deep rooted. In such cases it becomes difficult to break the
parental behavioural patterns and wash away feelings of neglect without professional intervention. If you feel that you require help in refining and improving your role as a parent then do not hesitate in asking for help. Contact a child psychiatrist or a parental relationship counsellor.
Remember that the faster you act in eradicating feelings of neglect the better it is for the psychological well being of your children.
Why do parents neglect their children sometimes? What are the effects of neglecting children? What can parents do to avoid neglecting children? Discuss here.
