Sadness in children can arise for very different reasons. Your best friend or friend may have changed schools or moved to another city. Your pet may have passed away, or a loved one. Sad moments are part of life, just like happy moments. And this is true for both children and adults. In the case of children, they must be taught to go through those sad moments.
Many children will want to know why the thing that made them sad happened to them. They may even blame themselves. That is why it is important to help them understand that they are not to blame for the bad things that happen. That someone dies, that their parents divorce, that friends leave or other losses, are events that are part of life. Like happy events. Playful and creative activities will help children better understand and cope with their negative feelings.
Activities to work sadness in children
Children's books
The first instinct of any adult who sees a sad child is to go to a bookstore or library. Inside children's books there is a good supply of books that talk about the negative feelings of children. Books about the loss of someone loved (including pets), about the divorce of parents, the loss of a friend, or about emotions in general, are very useful for children to know how to recognize their feelings. movies about the emotions They can also help, but if the boy or girl is too young, he or she will probably not last until the end.
The important thing is that they understand, identify and can talk about their feelings. That is why it is also essential that you speak to them frankly, children need to hear the truth. Hiding the concepts of death or separation from them, for example, as could be done in the past, will only cause more discomfort in the little ones, because they will not understand what is happening or why they feel sad.
Sensory and immersive activities
Mindful or sensory activities, or refocusing activities, is one of the best ways to help children get out of negative feelings, such as anger, worry, anger, or sadness. These types of activities they can help children move from a negative state to a state of flow. To be in a state of flow is to be completely absorbed in an activity. It is when you are immersed in the present moment without worrying about anything other than the here and now.
Play is a therapeutic activity for children. But sometimes they need a little help to get to that state, and that's where sensory activities and aware can help children return to a state of flow. These kinds of activities are perfect to use as a brain break or to transition from learning on electronic devices to playtime away from screens.
A sensory garden to work sadness in children
It is known that gardening provides a psychological boost by reducing stress and increasing positive emotions. One reason for this is that gardening lends itself to being in the present moment and in a state of flow. Some research even shows that digging in the dirt increases serotonin levels in the brain. Do not forget that in gardening you work with living beings and that makes the work more careful. In addition, a garden helps us to connect with the earth and nature, relaxes our sight and smell, and shows us a place in the world where we can do positive things for our surroundings and for ourselves.
However, if create a garden or orchard it's too much to start with, there are stone gardens or sand gardens, in which you tidy up said sand with a small rake. Seeing the small grains of sand move with the movement of their hands can be hypnotic for the little ones. They will concentrate on movement, on ordering that space in a way that makes them feel good. It would be a zen rock garden for children. This is an easy and effective way to introduce the idea of mindfulness and peace to children..