Childhood Problems: How You Can Help As Parents

Pupils friends teasing a pupil alone in elementary school

Solutions for Common Problems Children Face

As a parent, it is painful to watch your child struggle through anything, especially a medical issue. Yet, it is impossible to expect them to grow up problem-free. The problems below are typical issues facing children in the 21st century, with real-world advice about how each of them can be addressed, solved or managed.

Obesity

According to the American Heart Association, one in three American kids and teens is overweight. If your child is struggling with his or her weight, it is important to address the issue without pointing fingers. As much as obesity is a problem, so is low self esteem and an immense pressure to look a certain way. If you are concerned about your child’s health, attempt to change his or her habits.

Solutions

Engage the family in a walk after your meal together
Add playing outside to their chore list
Sign them up for a sport (dance lessons, soccer, football, baton)
Eat healthier (address the healthier meals to the entire family)
Avoid fast food (instead let the children cook dinner for you!)

Bullying

In recent years, bullying has gone from being pushed on the playground to stalked and harassed on the Internet. In some cases, the harassment can be so extreme that the child takes his or her own life.

Solutions for Cyber Bullying

Limit your child’s time on the computer
Install a parental tracking app so you can recreate your child’s online experience and monitor his or her conversations
Keep the computer in a common living place
“Friend” your child on his or her various social media accounts
Create technology-free rooms and times (for example, before bed, dinner time with the family)

Solutions for Playground Bullying

Teach your son or daughter alternative modes of problem solving
Share with them a story of when you were bullied
Seek help/information from an older sibling
If needed, get the teacher involved to set some boundaries during school hours

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can be positive or negative. In this instance, we are discussing negative peer pressure – the kind that sways teens into drugs, alcohol and unsafe situations.

Solutions

Instill strong core beliefs and values in your child and reinforce them often especially during their middle and high school years when peer pressure is at its highest level..
Ask your child to sign a contract that states the activities he or she will not engage in (phrase it like they are making a promise to you)
Talk about the kind of behaviors that are good and bad
Provide outlets/excuses for your children to say “no” (for example, a curfew, car tracker, spies, etc.)

Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal part of growing up. Stress is part of our lives but sometimes it takes over and cripples a child’s desire to do anything new.

Solutions

Seek the help of medical professionals such as doctors and therapists
Acknowledge the problem and talk openly with your child
Share an experience that made you anxious
Encourage your son or daughter to keep a journal and write down the situations and tasks that make them feel anxious

The fact that your son or daughter shows signs of one of these common problems is not a reflection of your parenting skills. The fact that you are seeking solutions and willing to discuss options with your child is what makes you an exceptional parent.