Tips on Emotion Coaching for babies and toddlers under 2
Transcript
Title: Tips on Emotion Coaching for babies and toddlers under 2
Heading: Tips on Emotion Coaching for babies and toddlers under 2
Narrator: Tips on Emotion Coaching for babies and toddlers under 2.
We are all born with emotions. By attending to, understanding and accepting the emotions of their child, and becoming the child's "emotion coach", parents could support their child's physical and mental health from birth.
Super: Emotion Coaching; Support physical and mental health
Narrator: Babies have limited verbal abilities. Here are three tips to help you respond to their emotions:
Subheading: Tips on responding to babies' emotions
Super: Be Attentive: notice the changes in emotions and states of both your child and yourself
Narrator: "Be Attentive": notice the changes in emotions and states of both your child and yourself.
Super: Change Perspective: be understanding and take the opportunity to connect with your child
Narrator: "Change Perspective": be understanding and take the opportunity to connect with your child.
Super: Express Empathy: show understanding
Narrator: "Express Empathy": show understanding.
Let's take a look at how parents can respond to babies' emotions.
Subheading: Tips on responding to babies' and toddlers' emotions
Narrator: Tips on responding to babies' and toddlers' emotions.
A four-month-old baby puts a toy in his mouth. The domestic helper takes the toy away as soon as she sees this, and tells the baby not to put things in his mouth.
Domestic helper: No! No!
Super: Be Attentive
Narrator: The mother "is attentive" to the baby and sees why he is crying, so she advises the helper,
Super: Change Perspective
Mother: I know you worry that this toy is dirty, but if you "change your perspective", he loves mouthing at this stage, and having his toy taken away is certainly upsetting. Let's give him a clean teether instead.
Super: Express Empathy
Narrator: The mother gently picks up the baby and imitates his expression to "express empathy". The helper then gives the baby a clean teether and the baby smiles again.
Let's take a look at another scenario.
The father returns home from work and the mother hands the baby to him. The father is excited, but the baby begins to cry.
Super: Be Attentive
Narrator: The father "is attentive" to the feelings and needs of himself and the baby and thinks,
Super: Change Perspective
Father: I'm a bit disappointed he doesn't want to be with me, but it's normal for a nine-month-old baby to be afraid of separating from his mother. When I "change my perspective", I see that being with him while he is unhappy can also be a moment for connection.
Super: Express Empathy
Narrator: Then the father gently comforts the baby and "expresses empathy" by saying,
Father: Poor thing, you miss mummy right? Let's go find mummy now, shh...
Narrator: So the father carries the baby and both watch the mother from outside the kitchen. Baby gradually stops crying.
When your child is happy, you may also use these tips. Let's take a look!
The grandmother is busy preparing dinner when her 18-month-old grandchild tries to get her to play with him with a toy in his hand.
Boy: Grandma!
Super: Be Attentive
Narrator: The grandmother "is attentive" and knows her grandchild wants to play with her, but she wants to finish cooking first.
Super: Change Perspective
Narrator: The grandmother "changes her perspective" and realises her grandchild doesn't understand she is occupied now but just wants somebody to be with him.
Super: Express Empathy
Narrator: Therefore, the grandmother "expresses her empathy" and says,
Grandmother: You're happy and you want to play with grandma! How about sitting here just outside the kitchen so that I can watch you play, then I'll play with you when I finish cooking.
Narrator: The boy feels accompanied and plays happily outside the baby gate within the grandmother's sight. At the same time, she can continue cooking with peace of mind.
Super: Be Attentive; Change Perspective; Express Empathy
Narrator: When your child is having emotions, "be attentive" and notice the emotional changes of you and your child. "Change perspective" and remind yourself this is an opportunity to connect with your child. Then "express empathy" to foster his sense of security and enhance your parent-child relationship.
To learn more about children's social emotional development and how to respond to the emotions of preschoolers, please watch the videos on "Feelings and Connections Matter" and "5 Steps of Emotion Coaching".
To understand more about Emotion Coaching, please visit the website of the Family Health Service - Department of Health at www.fhs.gov.hk and refer to the corresponding pamphlets.
This video is produced by the Family Health Service of the Department of Health.
Produced in March 2021