As a parent, keeping your child healthy is a top priority. While encouraging good hygiene habits like hand-washing and teaching them to cough into their elbow are important steps in preventing sickness, there’s more to it than just physical health. According to psychologists, there are emotional traits and behaviors that can also contribute to a child’s overall physical well-being, highlighting the intricate connection between mind and body.
Dr. Golee Abrishami, PhD, explains that when a child rarely gets sick, it’s often due to the “biological safety” created by their environment, which includes factors like low toxic stress load, the benefit of co-regulation, and attachment and the nervous system. These elements play a crucial role in maintaining a child’s immunity and overall health.
Parents can further support their child’s health by embodying certain emotional traits. These include being emotionally predictable, employing active co-regulation, being empathic while holding boundaries, committed to their own healing, and being consistent and reliable. These traits not only help children avoid illness but also contribute to their social and emotional well-being.
In addition to these traits, parents can positively impact their child’s social and emotional health by prioritizing “repair” over perfection in relationships, engaging with their children in real-time activities instead of being distracted by screens, modeling self-regulation for their kids, and maintaining good sleep hygiene practices.
By focusing on emotional safety and well-being, parents can effectively reduce the likelihood of their children falling ill. Remembering that emotions play a crucial role in physical health can help parents create a nurturing environment that supports their child’s overall well-being.
Sources:
– Dr. Golee Abrishami, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Vice President of Clinical Care at Octave
– Inflammation: The Cause of All Diseases, Cells.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.