24.05.2022

Our children’s emotions: challenges and potential

By Lais Carvalho

The second Conference Cycle of the year was aimed at families from Early Childhood Education to High School and was attended by neuropsychologist Adriana Fóz. Entitled “Our children’s emotions: challenges and potential”, the researcher approached subjects related to mental health.

Adriana opened the meeting bringing an emotional panorama pre and post Covid-19. She also talked about the increasing use of technology, the challenging changes, and the best way to deal with them, addressing cognitive, technological, and social-emotional aspects.

The specialist talked about important concepts, such as mind and brain plasticity and their connection with mental health. In addition, she emphasized the importance of family members helping their children with the following aspects: being well with themselves, knowing how to deal with emotions, seeking help when necessary, recognizing limits, and seeking to be well informed.

A good part of the lecture was dedicated to differentiating between disorder, stress, and other sensitive points, including topics such as “cutting”, bullying, and suicide.

Screen time, the toxicity of technology, and its power to unbalance the equation of a healthy life with regulated emotions came up, but beyond the potential damage, it was clear that the role of the adult is not only in the supervision and curation of content but also in setting limits.

The neuropsychologist reiterated that the education process takes time. The exchange of a gadget for a book or an outing is not imminent and, many times is not even well regarded. However, it is necessary to insist and face that in the beginning there is a lot of resistance, but then it becomes a routine.

Finally, some general tips that remain:

Inform yourself, identify available tools (read, talk, seek other parents and professionals such as therapists)

Empower yourself (identify what you think, align yourself with your partner, see how you deal with the issues and how you will approach your children)

Break taboos (address difficult and sensitive topics and conversations. We can’t run away from them)

Be aware (create a connection channel with your children, do some sports together, have some routine together)

Emotions vary according to age, and maturity, and mainly suffer the influence of the relationship with the other and the environment we are inserted in. No recipe works for all families, but there must be a genuine will to see and respect our children, always trying to help them when necessary.