I also do product reviews and book reviews. How to help your lonely child - 9Honey As a kid, I didn’t hate it. I was not lonely growing up, but perhaps this was due to the environment my parents provided me with, that ensured I was not lonely. The more disconnect they feel, the more there is room for loneliness and the higher the chance to find companionship within negative influences. As the child develops, they become more complex and there is an increase in the number of concerns and worries they may face. Sometimes, it can cause paranoia which will hinder the relationship between both sides. And they often have a harder time dealing with those feelings when they have them. Posted May 20, 2013 They also risk being accused of playing favorites when there are other siblings in the family. 8 Lessons for parents raising a single child. And I’m pretty sure I am not selfish or anti-social (at least my friends tell me so! RELATED: 12 Tips for Raising an Only Child; Actually, there's plenty of good news about only child traits. For example, board games … Maintain contact with members of your extended family, involve your child in play groups at an early age, and make your home a comfortable and welcoming place your child's friends and playmates. For more difficult cases of loneliness that stem for excessive shyness and anxiety it is best to enlist not only the parents’ help but also professional help for dealing with the loneliness. Anna Krala from Childline confirms that children as young as six call to talk about feeling lonely. Positive Parenting Tips. You have your reasons for family planning, therefore don’t allow room for guilt when your child expresses loneliness. Sensitive nature towards lack of siblings, Won’t be able to experience direct niece or nephews, Undivided focus and attention from parents, Doesn’t have to deal with the sibling annoyance, Doesn’t have to compete with siblings for attention, Won’t be compared to another sibling in terms of excellence. Try a coloring book or a jigsaw puzzle, make a collage, or experiment with needlework of some kind. The loneliness of being an only child becomes more apparent as the child grows up. ), as many imagine only children to be. Often a lonely child will not react well to being pushed to interact more socially with other children because their loneliness is a product of fear. Studies have repeatedly shown that only children are no different from their peers — not particularly lonely, maladjusted, selfish, etc. Your child may also feel lonely, even if you play with her all the time. Don’t force or scare them into situations that they are uncomfortable with. Growing older can makes them wonder about having siblings sometimes. try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve loneliness; these can all contribute to poor mental health This is a change from times when larger families were encouraged so they could work as a unit to support each other. It gets stressful for the child when his/her parents call them multiple times in a day to make sure if they had their lunch already. How Not to Feel Lonely 1. Many mothers today figure out ways to not let their only child feel lonely – either by spending more time with them when possible, organising playdates, or encouraging independent play. HuffPost is part of Verizon Media. nope not at all :lol: i was a only child and was never lonely, mum made sure i went to playgroups and i had lots of friends on my "close" as i haver got older i still dont feel lonley, oh is technically a only child (has halfs but we dont know them!) Organising family events can help the only child spend time with their cousins. So, at least once and hopefully twice every weekend, your child should be interacting with other kids for a few hours at a time. He needs to come to you to deal with his loneliness. Understand the Facts About Loneliness. Mrinalini Pandey Awasthi, a Pune-based homemaker, shares her thoughts about only children. Since it is only one child to focus on, parents tend to put all their expectations into the individual. One study of preschool children found more than one in 10 say they're lonely and unhappy with their social relationships, and other research concluded one in five children aged seven to 12 also feel lonely. As an adult, I do hate it. Loneliness can only be satisfied in Him. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. That is a lot of lonely people. Are Only Children Lonely? If all the lonely people connected, no one would feel lonely ever again. It’s not the worst way to be raised, there are some advantages as far as resources, learning to interact with adults at a young age, etc. I might as well be an only child! You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. In this sense, they develop an earlier understanding of adjusting their interactions at home. I will say an extra prayer for you. I'm not particularly close to either of them now. But having siblings doesn't guarantee that you won't be lonely. This child will tend to leave the house more and spend less time at home to make up for this absence. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. While a lonely child could be bored or frustrated due to lack of things to do or people to talk to, an only child having his time alone could actually be relishing it. Specifically, they're not more spoiled, lonely, selfish, or overly dependent." As we raise our only child, we aren’t focused on what is “missing” from our family, but on the sense of completeness the three of us feel and know. You should make a special effort to help your child foster relationships outside the home. There should be room to express feelings or whatever is of concern. Studies also show that this may not just be “an age thing”, but be generational, which means that kids and teens may be more likely to feel lonely today than when their parents were their age. Tips to help lonely child: Take him to some social gatherings like church groups, sports teams, and drama clubs as these places can provide an alternative to make friends. 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