Behavior & discipline

How To Deal With Jealousy In Children?

How To Deal With Jealousy In Children?

Kids are usually very clear when expressing themselves. They may not hesitate to show such emotions as love, hate, sorrow, envy or anything similar. As for jealousy, it may begin to affect your child in more than one way. So what do you do when you find out your child displays a jealous behavior? You may wonder, ‘ Will it start affecting my kid’s nature adversely? ‘If these questions pop up in your mind, then the following article may help you learn more about children’s envy and how to deal with jealousy in children effectively.

Causes Of Jealousy in Children

If you wonder what could trigger a child’s envy, the following will help you better understand:

1. Comparison

The contrast of their child with another child or other children is very common for the parents. And it’s all right if you don’t let your kid know about this until you can’t get a hoopla out of the situation. But if you keep on comparing your child with a sibling or friend directly, it can not only build a sense of competition and low self-confidence but it can also lead to jealousy.

2. Pampering

Every parent loves to pamper and spoil their children once in a while. Nonetheless, it may generate the illusion that you are superior to others when you pamper your child excessively. And if your child meets someone stronger than him or someone in his hands then your child will be jealous and unsure.

3. Unhealthy Competition

Healthy competition is vital for every child but creating competition where it may not be appropriate can harm the personality of a child and can lead to envy. It can happen when you compare and expect a child to do what he or she may not be able to do, for example, if one child dances too well and you expect your child to do the same, however, he or she does not want or want to dance.

How To Deal With Jealousy In Children?

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4. Sibling Jealousy

The older child is often seen as being jealous of a younger sibling. It can happen when the parents change their attention from their older child to their newborn. The elder child can find the situation difficult to manage and may grow a feeling of envy towards his sibling.

How To Deal With Jealousy In Children?

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5. Academic Jealousy

Not all children are the same where some may succeed in sports, others in academics may be fine. And children are also involved in feeling jealous of children who perform extremely well in academics or co-curricular activities.

Signs Of Jealousy in Children

It is also necessary to identify the signs of jealousy for you as a parent. Here are some signs of jealousy in children:

1. A kid may be overly possessive

If your kid feels jealous, he might become overly possessive of everything. This mentality may not only be limited to materialistic things, but may also be possessive of his parents, family, and friends. He may not want to express anything, and this mindset may also cause depression.

How To Deal With Jealousy In Children?

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2. A kid may prompt your anger

When your child is jealous of his sibling, he will try his best to get your attention. The easiest way to get a parent’s attention is by misbehavior. Your kid might do all kinds of stuff that would make you furious, and all these attempts are just to move your focus away from him.

3. A child might feel insecure

Your child can feel insecure because of envy. This mindset is made more pronounced by the birth of a new child or a sibling in your child’s life. Your child may seem vulnerable and clinging and may keep an eye on your love and affection all the time.

4. Child may compare

A jealous kid will compare his talents, possessions and other items to other kids. If he needs or does not have anything, he will express his frustration and throw a tantrum, too.

5. A child may show aggressive behavior

A jealous child may exhibit rowdy, violent behavior. Not only can he misbehave with his siblings or peers but he may even be threatening them. You might also find your kid trying to hurt a sibling or a friend in some cases.

Ways to Deal with Jealousy in Children

Jealousy should be handled carefully so that it does not adversely affect your child. Here are some of the ways that can help you deal with child jealousy issues:

1. Turn the negative emotions to the positive

Giving a positive direction to your child’s negative thoughts can help him deal with jealousy. If his sibling or friend is better in studies than him, you should inspire your child to study himself harder for better grades, rather than getting ill-feelings towards those who do better than him.

2. Teach the importance of sharing

It’s really important to learn the importance of caring and sharing for each child. When a child learns to share his valuables with other people, not only can it help him make friends, but it can also eliminate the feelings of jealousy.

3. Do not over-praise 

As parents, you admire and love your child, and you can sometimes praise him for his hard work and efforts. Refrain from overdoing it though. In circumstances in which other children may have excelled, and where your words may comfort your child, you will find yourself over-praised. Refrain from doing just that.

4. Instill Positive Attitude

Try to stay away from anything that can create some form of envy inside your child as much as possible. It is recommended that values of friendship, sharing, and compassion be taught only from a young age. Teaching kids about envy can also help them better cope with emotions.

5. Don’t Compare Academic Performance

It is recommended that you refrain from contrasting the success of your child at school with his or her siblings or peers. Doing so can create a feeling of envy and hostility. You may not be seeing good results with your kid, but you may inspire him to work hard and get good grades instead of competing with others.

6. Listen to your kid

Jealousy is more deep-rooted than superficial. Speak to your child and listen to their thoughts and motives in your child that may cause this behavior. Listening to the doubts, worries, and concerns of your child will help him resolve his jealousy feelings.

Jealousy is very normal in kids. If it’s dealt with in a constructive way, however, your child will resolve it. In case you encounter difficulties in coping with the envy of your kids, it might be helpful to get assistance from a counselor or a field professional.

Also, Read: Does Birth Order Affects Personality Of Kids?

 

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