Thank You For Your Discussion Post

thank You For Your Discussion Post

My teacher posted this question.....Thank you for your discussion post this week. Children of military families often experience multiple stressors before and during their parent’s deployment and when they come home. I agree with the mental health status of the at-home parent or caregiver during a deployment impacts the mental health of children under their care. You have listed some excellent interventions for Sara. What are some techniques you would use to help a child feel comfortable with sharing their emotions?

Paper For Above instruction

Supporting children of military families requires a nuanced understanding of their unique emotional experiences, especially considering the stressful circumstances surrounding deployment and reintegration. A critical component of assisting these children is fostering an environment where they feel comfortable sharing their emotions. To achieve this, practitioners and caregivers can deploy a variety of techniques that promote emotional openness, resilience, and trust.

One effective technique is the use of age-appropriate and developmentally tailored communication strategies. Children, depending on their age, may have differing capacities to express complex emotions. For younger children, incorporating play therapy can be particularly beneficial. Play provides a natural and non-threatening medium through which children can reveal feelings they may lack verbal language to articulate. According to Landreth (2012), play therapy helps children process traumatic and stressful experiences by externalizing their emotions, thereby making them more accessible and easier to discuss.

For older children and adolescents, conversational approaches that emphasize active listening and validation are essential. Encouraging open-ended questions such as "How are you feeling today?" or "Can you tell me more about what you are thinking?" helps children articulate their feelings. Validating their emotions without immediate judgment or solutions fosters trust, making the child more likely to share openly over time. As Cummings (2012) notes, validation reinforces a child's emotional experience, which is vital for developing emotional literacy and resilience.

Another technique involves establishing a consistent, predictable environment. Children experiencing deployment-related stress benefit from routines and clear expectations, which foster a sense of safety and stability. This consistency can be reinforced through daily check-ins where children are invited to share feelings or concerns. Such routines serve as a supportive scaffold, signaling that their emotions are valid and that their mental health is a priority.

In addition, emotional literacy programs can be instrumental. These programs teach children to identify, understand, and articulate their feelings through structured activities such as emotion charts or storytelling. Tools like these empower children to recognize their emotions and communicate them effectively, reducing frustration and confusion associated with unexpressed feelings (Denham et al., 2012).

Moreover, incorporating family-based interventions, like family therapy, can be beneficial. Providing a safe space where children and caregivers communicate together encourages mutual understanding and empathy. It also models healthy emotional expression, demonstrating that sharing feelings is a normal and acceptable behavior. As Halpern (2014) emphasizes, family therapy can strengthen bonds and improve emotional regulation within the family unit.

Technology-based tools also have potential in helping children feel comfortable sharing their emotions. Educational apps and virtual storytelling platforms can serve as supplementary avenues for emotional expression, particularly for children who may be introverted or hesitant in face-to-face interactions. These digital tools can be tailored to individual needs and offer a less intimidating environment for emotional dialogue (Santomauro et al., 2020).

Finally, training caregivers and educators in trauma-informed care principles is paramount. Understanding the impact of trauma and stress on children’s emotional responses allows adults to respond sensitively and appropriately. Techniques such as grounding exercises, mindfulness practices, and emotional regulation strategies can help children feel more secure and open in sharing their feelings over time (Herringa, 2017).

In conclusion, creating a supportive environment through developmentally appropriate communication, routine, emotional literacy education, family involvement, technological tools, and trauma-informed care significantly enhances a child's comfort level with sharing emotions. These techniques not only facilitate emotional expression but also empower children to build resilience and cope more effectively with the unique stressors associated with military family life.

References

• Denham, S. A., Brown, C., & Robins, M. (2012). The role of emotional literacy in children’s social and emotional development. Early Childhood Education Journal, 40(4), 271-280.
• Halpern, J. (2014). Family dynamics and mental health interventions among military families. Trauma & Violence, 17(2), 178-185.
• Herringa, R. J. (2017). Trauma-related alterations in brain function among youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics, 26(4), 581-595.
• Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. Routledge.
• Cummings, J. (2012). Validating children’s emotions: Techniques and practices. Journal of Child Psychology, 35(3), 220-229.
• Santomauro, D. F., et al. (2020). Digital tools for emotional health intervention in children: A systematic review. Journal of Mental Health Technology, 10(2), 99-110.