How To Build Emotional Endurance In Preteens

Introduction

Emotional endurance is neither a magic trick nor a mean feat. It has no shortcut, nor does it require strenuous training. It has to be imbibed via healthy expression of emotions and a positive approach to challenges and setbacks. Emotional endurance refers to the ability to face and withstand conflicts, challenges, and stressful situations without feeling overwhelmed.

It also involves the ability to persevere when faced with failure and strive for success against all odds. But why do kids and preteens need to develop the trait? In the 21st century, children have a packed schedule and delicate mental health, due to their extremely hectic lifestyles.

When you throw puberty into the mix, reality becomes hard to handle and juggle for kids, as well as various other parts of their lives. Emotional endurance helps them see things with a broader perspective, helping kids understand that growing up is a normal part of life and that there is nothing embarrassing about it. So, give this guide a try to build emotional endurance in your kids in no time.

Tips On Building Emotional Endurance In Preteens

Accept Change

Teach your kids to accept change as a part of life. As they enter puberty, their body will undergo various changes and developments. While female kids begin menstruating, male preteens undergo a change in voice, physique, and stature. And since this process happens all of a sudden, no matter how much you prepare them or yourself for it, it is okay to be nervous. But if your preteens can accept change, they can handle any curveball life throws at them.

Allow Kids To Make Some Decisions

Let your kids make some choices and have some say in the food they eat and the clothes they like. Though you definitely have the final say, the fact that they get to choose whether they wish to buy jeans, or a skirt is enough to boost their self-esteem and develop precious decision-making skills in them. While maintaining their health and wellbeing is your concern, it is your kid’s concern to figure out who they want to be. So, ease them into the process of decision-making.

Maintain A Positive Self-View

Maintaining a positive self-view is important for kids of all ages. As their hormones start acting up, preteens start having tantrums and mood swings as well. They can often feel negatively about the world and themselves. While the verdict is still out for the former, the latter needs to be kinder to themselves. Not everybody achieves the same milestones at the same pace and age, and that is the beauty of being different from one another. Never let your kid forget that.

Assign Responsibilities

If you wish to enhance your kid’s emotional endurance, then start by developing a sense of responsibility. Assign chores and duties at home to them. The work can be equally divided among all, with each person taking turns doing the laundry, taking out the trash, and helping with meal preparation weekly. While initially, it may seem daunting and irksome to some kids, once they get used to it, they will be sorted for an independent and healthy lifestyle in the future. The ability to persevere and complete manual chores further enhances the mental resilience of preteens.

Create A Safe Space For Communication

Emotional endurance is built when kids find a safe space to lower their emotional barriers, recharge and solve their problems in peace. Therefore, it is ideal for parents to create a safe communicative space between family members and kids. This will help children come up to them with their problems, share how their day went, and get valuable tips to deal with life on a daily basis.

Acknowledge Their Failures

It is ideal to acknowledge your preteen’s failure without scolding and wringing their necks about it. While the disappointment can be understandable, it is not the appropriate time to express it. Instead, try to figure out what went wrong together and try to rectify them. Kids like working hard when they do not feel embarrassed about something. So do not make them feel worse. Let them acknowledge their failure, identify their mistakes, and ace the test the next time.

Conclusion

Emotional endurance is a necessary trait for every individual. No matter the age or profession, it helps easily overcome obstacles and problems. But while adults develop it with time and experience, modern-day kids need to up their game to keep up with the burgeoning levels of stress. For this, their parents need to start building mental resilience early in their lives. Pre-teenagers are at a crucial juncture in their lives at which everything seems new and confusing. Since all that change can feel overwhelming, emotional endurance is the key to handling it. As emotional endurance also develops gratitude, scheduling skills, and perseverance in kids in the long run, it is time to try this guide.