As children head back to school, parenting coach Nicki Pittorino is urging parents to embrace their children's meltdowns rather than trying to stop them quickly. She says these emotional outbursts provide valuable clues about how kids are feeling.
Pittorino, founder of Whole Picture Parenting, explains that children often feel anxious, overwhelmed, or daunted by transitions. Instead of trying to fix the situation, she advises parents to provide a safe space for children to express their feelings and learn to manage them.
“It’s about seeing behaviour as a form of communication,” Pittorino said. She warns against dismissing children's struggles with phrases like “that’s not so bad” or “it’ll be better tomorrow,” which minimize their experience. Instead, parents should ask questions like “how did that feel for you?” or acknowledge the difficulty.
Pittorino emphasizes that parents can still be positive about the new school year but should balance that with listening closely to their children. She suggests setting expectations by saying school will be fun while also reassuring kids that they can talk about any problems.
Beyond emotional support, Pittorino advises parents to consider factors like food, sleep, and exercise, which can influence a child's behaviour. By looking at the whole picture, parents can better understand and support their children during this transition.
