I received a brilliant email from Gavin McCormack which talks about a child’s emotional cup. He states that when a child’s emotional cup is approaching empty, we may see some of the following behaviours:
- attention seeking behaviour to alert us that they need a refill.
- think they have to fight flight to get a refill.
- demonstrate a sense of anxiety once they approach empty.
What causes an empty cup?
- stress and pressure to achieve
- isolation
- yelling
- punishment
- failing
- fatigue
- being forced to do something they hate
What refills a child’s emotional cup?
- play
- friendship
- one on one time together
- love and affection
- connection
- success
- being given the choice to do what they want to do