THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-ADVOCACY IN CHILDREN

Now, perhaps more than ever, we must teach our children to stand up for themselves and uphold their boundaries. Self-advocacy equips little ones to do exactly this.

Thankfully the time of children being seen but not heard is behind us. These days, we see children for the individuals they are, with their unique personalities, likes and dislikes. Not everyone sees little ones this way and, as a result, it's crucial to teach our kids all about self-advocacy. In short, self-advocacy is about speaking up for yourself and what's important to you. People who are able to self-advocate feel comfortable asking for what they need or want, as well as expressing their thoughts and emotions. Teaching your child about self-advocacy will undoubtedly help them to hold their own and not be silenced by others.

FOUR STEPS TO SELFADVOCACY 

There are several things parents can do to enable their children to stand up for themselves. Let’s check them out.

Listen close

A great first step in teaching your child about self-advocacy is showing them how to listen to themselves to find out what their own needs are. So many kids struggle to express their wants and needs because they don’t quite have a clear enough picture internally. Sit with your child when they’re clearly feeling an emotion and help them to recognise it.

You can extend this to other feelings including hunger, thirst, sleepiness or needing to use the bathroom, as many children struggle to identify these feelings until they’re overwhelmed by them. In time, your little one will become accustomed to each distinct feeling and emotion that they experience. This understanding will act as the foundation for their journey towards self-advocacy.