Encourage them to take a moment to acknowledge and label their feelings about the setback.
Dealing with Disappointment
Disappointment is a natural part of life that young people will encounter as they navigate through different experiences. It can result from unmet expectations, setbacks, or shattered dreams. However, learning to manage disappointment is crucial for building resilience and personal growth. It's important to understand that disappointment is a normal emotion and plays a vital role in a young person's emotional, intellectual, and social development. Instead of trying to shield children from disappointment, we can support them in learning how to cope with it, as it equips them with the skills for future challenges. Helping children develop healthy strategies for managing disappointment will contribute to their long-term happiness and success. It's like a practice lap on the course to adulthood.
Allow them to feel disappointment
Encourage them to take a moment to acknowledge and label their feelings about the setback.
Do a reality check
Help them assess the situation objectively and separate fact from fiction to reduce negative self-talk.
Choosing how to respond
Remind them that they have a choice in how they think and respond to disappointment.
Don’t allow endless rumination
Discourage them from dwelling on disappointment for too long to prevent it from escalating into stronger negative emotions.
Put things in perspective
Encourage them to reframe the disappointment in a constructive and positive way, finding something useful or a small positive aspect.
Journalling
Writing down their distress can help express and process their emotions in a non-threatening way.