Does Your Child Always Want To Be The Center Of Attention? Find Out Why!
Most people who raise children will admit that there is no book that can convey the daily difficulty of being a mother or father. Where does this difficulty lie? In many cases, the desire to adapt to formulas and standards, to rigid recipes, which leads to frustrating experiences for parents and children.
The words we use to refer to our situation before the world and others build reality. For many centuries, childhood was relegated to a level of submission, enigma, obscurantism and uncertainty.
Currently, the International Rights of the Child are known and the look at the little ones has become more empathetic. And, at the same time, much more useful.
In any case, many stigmas and commonplaces remain highly detrimental to children’s healthy development. One is the idea that children’s freedom ends where adult conversation begins.
On the other hand, the conception of children classified as good and bad still persists overwhelmingly. Perhaps not surprisingly, this look at childhood in a society in which what breaks the rules quickly becomes a threat.
Does your child want to be the center of attention? change perspective
Parents are surprised and complain that their child wants to be the center of attention, constantly making mischief. The surprise comes when they realize that, despite knowing that there can be anger and even punishment and screaming, minutes later, the little one returns to try his luck with another inappropriate activity.
In the reality of children’s education, it is called ‘negative reinforcement’ when what is sought is obtained by adverse means. In fact, positive reinforcement is always preferable.
Your child doesn’t want you to be mad at him, he doesn’t want you to yell or punish him. This is simply the way he learned to communicate with you. He doesn’t want to be the center of attention, he wants to be happy and be surrounded by happiness.
However, sometimes your child is surprised by intense feelings that he or she cannot handle, except with your help. This is a kind of childish fear of overflowing itself. Why does it happen?
Following the model of respectful early childhood education, it is considered that, when a child cries, what matters is not that he stop crying, but that he learns to understand his own feelings.
Adults often despair when a young child cries inconsolably. They look around, feeling panic and shame. They believe they will be accused of being useless by society for ‘not knowing how to calm the child’.
In a hurry, instead of hugging and trying to empathize with the child’s feelings, the parents give her a candy, a toy or even make a threat to keep her quiet.
Understanding, dialogue, trust
Knowing these emotional mechanisms, it becomes more accessible a look of empathy for this innocent being who depends on you to connect with the world.
First, you must admit that your child is distressed about something, that he is hurting, and that he doesn’t know how to express his feelings in ways other than ‘getting attention’.
If, instead of denying it, you accept the child’s feeling, the gap in communication will be narrowed further and further. Little by little, your child will be able to express his feelings for himself.
The same dialogue, from the same perspective, can be applied when the child wants something that you think she doesn’t need or doesn’t do well, or isn’t right for the moment. In that case, you simply need to breathe and explain that you understand what she is feeling, but that you have your reasons for not complying with her request.
It is necessary to stop and analyze that, if your child trusts you, the frustration will be less and less, until he manages it himself. The little one must gain independence.
Conclusion
“It takes an entire village to raise a child,” says an African proverb. Children need security, protection and acceptance from the people around them so that they can grow autonomously, positively appropriating the world around them and in which they live.
In short, if your child wants to be the center of attention, this is a warning sign that dialogue, affection and love are needed. Final tip: Always trust that you will know how to give your child the attention and care he or she needs.
