Vallarta JIC Director Beatriz Barron Hernandez: Express Your Feelings Beatriz Barron Hernandez - Juvenile Integration Center
May 18, 2015

Is your kid having changes in his/her attitude? Does he/she get angry or sad all of a sudden? Do you know why?

Most kids have difficulties expressing their feelings for various reasons:
1. They don’t necessarily understand what they are feeling
2. They don’t have the exact words to express themselves
3. They feel ashamed
4. They are afraid to speak

To help them speak we have to make clear this:
1. Parents will love their kids the same no matter what the kids say.
2. Kids don’t have to be afraid or feel ashamed of expressing what they feel, especially with their parents.

Kids identify themselves when parents and beloved ones tell them stories of their own, for example: “when I was your age, I used to get angry because of…”. This helps them a lot.

If you notice that your kids doesn’t have the exact words to express his emotions you can help them by speaking first, for example: “I can see that you feel frustrated for not accomplishing…”.

When kids finally find their way to express their feelings (this might not be right away), you have to lend them the “tools” to face what they feel, feel it and let it go.

Depending on what they are feeling you can teach them to run, to hardly scratch on a piece of paper, to hit a cushion, to scream out loud (ahhhhhhh), to cry, to breathe, etc.

We have to remember that kids are human beings that imitate what they see, so take these advices and use them as well, so when you advice your kid you will be practicing what you are preaching. We invite you to come to the Family Orientation Groups in the Juvenile Integration Center (CIJ Puerto Vallarta), learn about this and other subjects which are important for your kids’ emotional and mental health.

Psychologist Beatriz Barrón Hernández. Juvenile Integration Center Director. Information: Telephone number 290-0555 and 290-0568. E-mail: cijpuertovallarta@cij.gob.mx

Translated by Karla Beatriz Martínez Barrón

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