Jasour – News Desk
Dr. Mena Badawi, a mental health consultant, emphasized that teaching children how to express their emotions in a healthy way helps protect them from bullying. She pointed out that it is an emotionally intelligent act for a mother to teach her child to respect their anger and know how to express it, just as she teaches them to express their joy and happiness. Often, we handle a child’s emotions without appreciation when they are angry, which makes the child think that anger is unacceptable. Eventually, the child may resort to suppressing their emotions, which affects them psychologically in the future.
During a media interview today, Dr. Badawi explained that a child is indirectly affected by the beliefs and behaviors of their parents, as they may hear strong and hurtful words despite the good intentions of the parents.
She added, “For example, we often hear parents say to their children phrases like: ‘Be careful, you look like…’ or ‘Don’t eat too much because you are becoming…’ These words, although they may come from a place of love, can leave a negative impact on the child’s self-esteem.”
Dr. Badawi continued, “Sometimes, we unintentionally teach our children incorrect behaviors, such as displaying violence in interactions with others at home, and then expect them to go out into society and deal with those who bother them aggressively. This negatively impacts their psychological and social development.”
She emphasized that building a child’s character starts at home, where the child must learn how to express their emotions respectfully and healthily, as well as how to handle different situations without resorting to violence or revenge. Dr. Badawi said, “Revenge and violence do not bring psychological comfort; they only exacerbate internal crises. We must teach our children how to face their problems calmly and understand that solutions based on dialogue and mutual respect are more effective.”
