Gauging the emotional wellness of children and teens

KUALA LUMPUR: The ASSIST ministry of the Sacred Heart Church recently held a talk on Emotional Wellness for Children & Teens. This session was presented by Felix Kong Hon Sen, a registered counsellor and paediatric psychologist from the parish.

Kong introduced the 65 parents who attended to the concept of Emotional Wellness — a holistic approach to wellbeing, one beyond the absence of unhappiness or the presence of “surface” happiness. It means the accurate identification, safe expression and regulation of emotions that lead to a peaceful co-existence with internal emotions, life’s upheavals, boredom and triggers even painful memories. Such peaceful co-existence grows into resilience in the face of the ups, downs and plateaus of life.

The session included the developmental processes of a child’s brain, good modelling by adults of ways to handle difficult situations and the need for children to be taught the concept of excellence rather than the illusive idea of perfection.

Parents were made aware of the futility of punishing a child, who is in a frozen state during a fight, flight or freeze reactionary situation. The child should, instead, be supported and taught ways to calm their mind and body with deep breathing or distraction by the use of familiar toys or scents, thus allowing them some time to cool down.

The session finished on a very positive note, with many asking for further sessions on this subject. The ASSIST Ministry of the Parish will be holding further sessions, especially with the catechists to assist them in connecting more effectively with the children in their classrooms. There will also be a career guidance talk for the Form 4 and 5 Sunday school children.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online