Child psychology: What is it?

Child psychology is a subfield of developmental psychology. It deals with the psyche of children from birth to puberty, their health, behavior, and development. Among other things, it concerns the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children, but also their self-perception. Child psychology is not only the recognition and treatment of psychological problems with psychotherapeutic methods, but also the prevention of mental disorders. This includes anxiety, eating, speech development, and sleep disorders, as well as depression, dyslexia and much more.

Stable psyche of children: Friendships for a happy childhood

• Adults know: Good social contacts make happy, balanced and are good for the psyche. This also applies to children, even if their friendships from an adult perspective often seem fickle and unstable: Today the very best friend can be found in kindergarten, tomorrow in the neighboring house, the day after tomorrow at the public pool or on the football field. Children learn through these changing relationships, to open up to other people.

• Trust and boundaries: Through friendships, children develop their social skills. They instinctively look for „like-minded peers“ with similar interests. The Trust, that they build toward same-aged playmates, is just as important for the psyche of children as the boundary-setting toward the environment. Children also learn that there are other kinds of relationships and belonging than those with parents and siblings.

• How can I encourage children's friendships? If children have few friends, there can be a variety of reasons: Some are very shy, others may be satisfied with only a few friends and do not seek other contacts. If your child generally seems content, you should not force friendships. But if your child longs for friendships, you can support them and arrange playdates with other families and their children.

Child psychology: Characteristics in children's behavior

Every child is unique.Some learn quickly, others need a bit more time, some are constantly on the move, others can spend hours doing crafts or painting. Almost all parents know and love their children's idiosyncrasies. And yet doubts sometimes arise: Is it normal for my child to behave this way?

The field of behavioral abnormalities in child psychology is very broad and ranges from temporary irregularities and developmental disorders to persistent mental disorders that require treatment.

The most important rule when dealing with behavioral issues is:No self-diagnoses!If your child's behavior worries you, consult a doctor to obtain a medical diagnosis if necessary. Experts can also tell you how to handle your child's behavior and psyche and what therapy options are available.

Child psychology: How do I deal with my child's fears?

When children are afraid, it is often difficult for parents to cope. Security and a sense of safety are among the most important feelings we want to convey to our children. And not infrequently are childhood fears simply irrational and appear quite suddenly up. How should one deal with it when a child from one day to the next suddenly no longer wants to fall asleep alone or refuses to enter a particular shop? It is important not to dismiss the fear as a provocation. Patience is often the best remedy, because many fears pass on their own after a while.

Don't leave me – Separation anxiety

Suddenly your child clings to you in the morning at daycare or refuses to spend the afternoon alone with grandma and grandpa. Many parents know such situations. From about the third year of life develop some children strong separation anxieties that go far beyond the 'stranger anxiety' of infancy. Although these are only phases, they are still nerve-wracking. It's best to prepare your child for the separation situation in advance and tell them where you will be during that time. Often the little ones just want to know where you are.

Leave the light on! When children are afraid of the dark

Fear of the dark is one of the 'classic fears' in child psychology and certainly does not only affect children. It often appears suddenly: from one day to the next children fear monsters and all sorts of creepy things in the dark bedroom or in the basement. This is not unusual, because the fear of the dark is essentially the fear of everything unknown. Bedtime dramas can be avoided with a few simple measures. On our page 'What to do about the Fear of the dark?” we have a few tips for you summarized.

Grief and Other Big Feelings: Understanding Children's Psyche

Not everything can be explained in a few sentences. The world of feelings is already complicated for adults, so how are children supposed to cope with it, understand their own feelings and those of others, and deal with them? The fact is: children are very sensitive and engage with their emotions and their psyche more than many adults believe. Above all, they sense whether someone is authentic or not. That's why you should be honest whenever it comes to feelings, worries, or fears.

How do children process loss?

Until a few generations ago, death was also a natural part of life for children: grandparents and perhaps great-grandparents lived in the same house, so children learned about age, death, and grief as part of family life. Today, the death of a loved one often affects children suddenly — also because many parents consciously avoid the topic.

They may be trapped in their own grief and unable to support their child as needed. Experts advise giving grieving children sufficient opportunities to say goodbye — whether at the funeral, in a professionally led bereavement group for children, or simply by having them write a letter to the deceased or visit the grave together with their parents.How to explain death to your child you can read more on a separate page.

Image credits

Father lifts small child above his head © pikselstock - stock.adobe.com

Mother gives child a kiss © Yakobchuk Olena - stock.adobe.com

Child sticks out its tongue at its mother © Anatoliy Karlyuk - stock.adobe.com Child sits alone in the room with a teddy bear on a white carpet © Tomsickova - stock.adobe.com