During the stage of development and growth of children, regressive behaviors are common with which mothers and fathers must learn to deal. Although it may be confusing or even frustrating, this type of action responds to certain causes and can be managed in a positive way to redirect the situation. However, the first thing to be clear about is how regressive behaviors work.
This is the name given to the actions carried out by children when they return to perform certain behaviors linked to stages of their evolution that they seemed to have already overcome. For example, wetting the bed, refusing food that they already accepted or sucking their thumb when they no longer did. Often, this can be a cause for alarm for parents, but it is something frequent that corresponds to a feeling that minors experience and that adults have to identify.
Throughout the development of children, they overcome and leave behind certain stages that lead to those learning achievements that make them move forward and boost their growth. However, when you return to the starting point of one of these phases, it is what is known as regressive behavior. Why does this occur? The main reason is stress.
A highly stressful experience or situation, such as a parent’s divorce, the death of a family member, or the birth of a sibling, can cause this. So going back to those earlier stages that are familiar to you and comfortable with is your way of coping with stress and regulating that feeling. This step back and stagnation is what justifies regressive behaviors.
The key for parents to deal with their children’s regressive behaviors is to adopt a position of empathy and a lot of patience. The solution will never be punishment, nor scold him, much less reproach him for his “baby” attitude. It will be important to talk to them calmly and provide them with a safe space in which they can feel confident and calm. In this way, children will be able to adapt to this situation and overcome this setback, so that these regressive behaviors will be left behind.
Usually, this type of strategy to manage them will be enough for the child to overcome this circumstance. However, it is true that, in certain cases, this attitude of naturalness, empathy and patience on the part of parents may not be enough for children to abandon this type of behavior. Then it will be necessary to go to a child specialist so that she can intervene and act in the best possible way for the child.
