How do you help your child to deal with disappointment?

[parrotonmyshoulder]

It's an emotion I really struggle with. I don't deal with it well myself and would really like to help DD cope better.

DD (6) has been really looking forward to something that we were going to do next week. I've found out today that we can't do it. The reasons are very valid and I cannot make it happen.

I know. She 'has to learn' etc etc. She can't always get what she wants. Blah blah. She is very sensitive, struggling a bit in school at the moment, I work full time and she feels like I favour her little brother. She's feeling a bit low and hard done to. We have been planning this for ages.

I don't know how to tell her.

Plan an alternative for her to be excited about?

Empathise with her feelings of upset and disappointment. Also say that you understand how she feels and that you really wish you could do the thing that was planned too but for x reason plans have had to change now.

Good luck. I'm having counselling atm as I was never allowed to express emotions as a child and it's really messed me up.

Thanks. I need to pick my moment - no good telling her when I haven't got time to listen and deal with it. She is going to be really disappointed. She's been telling friends about it and planning it in detail.

I'm struggling with it too. We've talked about it for ages. My mum is too ill to come on the trip. That's why we're not going. We can go another time. But it won't be this holiday. My mum is still visiting, so it will be a nice holiday.

Yes, good plan to pick your moment. Ah that sounds really difficult

You're right though - she will have to learn as life can be full of disappointments. I think as parents we need to teach them how to deal with it.

Hope you're both ok when you have the conversation.