Sadness in children: what are the reasons and what to do to help

To the children, like all people, are subject to developing unpleasant feelings, such as, for example, sadness.

In this case, there are several reasons that can awaken this state of discouragement and restlessness in the little ones. However, it is not always easy to identify the reason why a son, nephew or grandson is down.

If you find yourself in this situation and are worried, read this article and find out what to do when a child is sad and see the possible ways to help the little ones.

Read more: Learn how to prevent depression in children

talking is essential

It is very common for people to look for ways to “cheer up” someone who is sad, and that also includes children. However, this is not always the best way to intervene in a situation of sadness, even more so in the case of children. That's because this feeling usually comes as a result of an event or reality that bothers and causes discomfort. So the main thing is to get

identify the reason for the deduction.

In this sense, it is recommended dialogue direct with the child, so that he can talk about what worries him. For this, it is necessary that they feel comfortable talking about what is going on and realize that this space is free of judgments. In addition, it is also important that the adult knows how to listen to what the child says in order to know how to interpret these lines. After all, children are not always able to express precisely what they feel or what happened. So, be aware of the details of the speech and know when not to force a conversation that could hurt even more emotionally.

When should I worry

When an episode of sadness is persistent (lasting a few days), it is very uncomfortable, bringing changes in habits (food, school, routine), it is necessary and natural that a concern.

Also, it may be that the reason for the sadness is not apparent, that is, too sudden for the child to be able to understand what happened. In these cases, you should observe whether there is any moment of the day when the child is even sadder, such as, for example, on the way to school, which may indicate that something has happened in that environment.

Not to mention that children who go through trauma, abuse and violence in general can hide the reason for their sadness out of fear. So, learn to recognize signs that someone is oppressing you. For example, spots on the body, insistence not to go to a certain place or talk to someone, can indicate specific problems. Therefore, try to get the child to speak to you for advice and, in more serious cases, consult a doctor or mental health professional.