10 Steps to Prevent Children from Depression

Many parents are waking up to the realization that depression is no longer an adult only syndrome but their children too are vulnerable to it. Understanding this fact is critical for parents to play a leading role in ensuring that they prevent depression from occurring in the lives of their children at any stage of their development. The following 10 steps are designed to help parents get a grip on how to prevent depression from setting in on their children:

1. Understand that a parent’s relationship to their child is the number one bastion for preventing depression.

In fact the level of investment a parent makes towards their relationship with their children is indicative of the susceptibility of their children to depression. So, if you have been an absentee parent, the chances of depression settling on your child are very high.

2. Build a stronger parent-child bond

This entails the parent taking initiative to find out what things are interesting to your child. It also means designating certain times as exclusive times for you and your child to spend some time together. Use these times to eat together and play.

3. Be an encouraging parent

It is no secret that the parent usually plays the role of their child’s hero. So take advantage of this opportunity and invest in saying encouraging words to your child. Say them as often as possible. You can also offer positive feedback whenever your child makes an attempt at something.

4. Learn how to deal with your anger in a manageable manner

Anger management is central to effectively preventing depression from settling in on your child. Mostly, it is the way you handle your anger disappointments and frustrations that opportunities arise for depression to set in on you, and by extension your child as well. So, children will always copy what a parent does. Bad anger management practice will lead to a high risk of depression on yourself as well as your child.

5. Prevent depression from settling in on you as the parent

Without a doubt, majority of the depression that sets in on children went unnoticed because the parents too were depressed. It is impossible to detect and prevent something in another when you are unable to detect it in yourself as well. The tools are the same in both cases.

6. Get an ida of the other sources of information that your child is exposed to and try to see their content.

Usually, this applies to media information. Could your child be surrounding themselves with depressing games, or shows?

7. Expose and encourage your child to make friends with others

When children have friends, it adds social captal to their self esteem. This is a robust strategy in fighting depression since self esteem builds on their healthy view of their social surroundings.

8. Exercise frequently with your child

Exercising generates certain hormones in your body which produce a “feel good” feeling that is effective against depression.

9. Ensure proper sleeping habits for your child

Good, uninterrupted sleep that is regular is a number one killer of depression.

10. Check your attitude always

A good attitude can take you to altitudes of relationship with your child unimaginable. Children pick on attitude quickly, and use it to detect your sincerity. Insincerity on your part depresses and perplexes your child.