When a child is struggling with the pressures of school, a parent’s instinct might be to offer solutions or tough love. However, a clinical psychologist suggests that the most powerful tool in a parent’s arsenal is something much simpler: empathy. Truly listening to and validating a child’s experience can be the key to preventing burnout.
Clinical psychologist Meghna Kanwat highlights empathy as a crucial component of effective parenting. “Validating the child’s experience ensures parent-child communication remains open and supportive,” she explains. This means when a child expresses feelings of being overwhelmed, the parent’s first response should be one of understanding, such as, “That sounds incredibly difficult.”
This empathetic response creates a safe emotional space for the child. It tells them that their feelings are legitimate and that they won’t be judged or dismissed. This, in turn, encourages them to continue sharing their struggles, allowing parents to gain a clearer picture of what is causing their stress and to intervene before it escalates.
Without empathy, communication can quickly shut down. If a child’s feelings are met with dismissiveness (“Everyone goes through this”) or immediate problem-solving (“You just need to manage your time better”), they may feel misunderstood and stop confiding in their parents, choosing to suffer in silence.
By leading with empathy, parents strengthen their relationship with their child, building a foundation of trust that acts as a buffer against stress. This connection is vital for children of all ages, from a primary schooler anxious about a test to a teenager worried about the future. It’s the superpower that helps children feel seen, heard, and supported, no matter the academic pressures they face.