As parents, leaving your children to go to work is never easy. Especially, when they don’t want you to leave. Explaining the concept of work to a child is not just about addressing their immediate concerns about you leaving them; it is also about teaching them responsibility, teamwork, and the balance between work and family. Here’s how you can navigate this conversation with honesty, reassurance, and patience.
Understanding Your Child’s Emotion
When a parent leaves for work, a child’s emotions can range from confusion and sadness to anxiety and even anger. These feelings stem from their limited understanding of why you’re leaving and their strong attachment to you.
Understand your child’s emotions by actively listening to them, observing their body language, acknowledging their feelings, and encouraging them to express themselves without fear.
Communicating Work-Life Balance: Tips for Parents
1. Simplify the Concept of Work: Explain the purpose of work to your child by saying that working helps you earn money so that they can have food, clothes, and toys. This reassures your child that work isn’t about leaving them but taking care of them.
2. Show them Empathy: Respond to your child’s questions with empathy by saying things like, “I know it’s hard when I’m not here, but I will come back to you very soon”. Validating their emotions helps them feel understood.
3. Compare Work to School: If your child attends school, draw parallels between school and work. Tell them you go to work to learn new things and grow smarter as they do in their school. This comparison builds a sense of shared experience.
4. Share What You Do At Work: If possible, take your child to your workplace occasionally so that it is less alien to them. Show them photos of your office or share stories about your day to make them feel a sense of familiarity.
5. Involve Them in the Process: Let your child participate in small tasks like packing your lunch or choosing your outfit. This makes your child feel included. Building a goodbye ritual, such as a special hug can make your departure more reassuring.
6. Focus on Quality Time After Work: Ensure your child gets your undivided attention once you are back. Ask about their day, play a game with them, or read them a bedtime story. This helps them associate your return with love and connection.
Conclusion
Dr. Swati Vats, co-founder of Podar Prep Preschool, says that children go through the phase of missing their parents when they are at work. Parents need to be sensitive towards it by reassuring their child. Tell them how good they’ve been the whole day or appreciate small things they did in your absence such as eating a bowl of fruits. This can help them feel loved and secure, making your relationship with them better.
At Podar Preschool, we believe that nurturing a strong and healthy parent-child bond is a beautiful journey. For more interesting tips, engaging parenting insights, and fun home-play activities, follow Podar Prep on Instagram!