Learning to teach children to feel is not an easy task. That is why we have experts who are trained in Child Pshycology to help us with things beyond our knowledge.

Sometimes children who have been molested or abused or placed in the foster care or adoption systems seem like an empty shell at times. They have been hurt so much and so often that to live through the experience they learn to turn off the pain. In doing so they literally turn off the emotional intuitions in their little body also.

Getting those children to open up and feel again is a life long task. Some are lucky and go on to live very full and meaningfull lives. Others just keep going until the pieces seem to fall into p;ace for them.

Here are a few positive ways to help a child learn to feel again:

1.) Always use positive examples.
2.) Introduce the child to new things, bright colors or different shapes.
3.) Ask them how they feel or what does that color represent to them.
4.) Ask them to describe a good way to use that color in a picture or that shape in a drawing.
5.) Expose the older child to younger children with supervision. Watch how they interact with the child. Then ask questions about how they think that child felt when their mom hugged them? Or do you think that child is crying because he is hungry or needs a new diaper?
Children will often open up and watch out for the safe being of other little children. It is a natural responce for children of abuse.
6.) Spend a day at the zoo...point out the loving things that each animal does along with the silly faces they make. Interact with the child and get them to make the same faces and sounds that the animals do too.
7.) Laughter is a positive feeling so tell jokes and keep children aware of the funny things that are happening around them.
8.) Be patient. It took a long time to turn off their inner feelings and soul reactions. It will take just as long to allow them to heal and for them to show those feelings to you.

Things You Never Want To Do:

1.) Never yell at a child who has been exposed to difficult events in life or ask them "How does that make you feel" durring a negative conversation.

2.) Try not to place any blame or guilt on the child for past, present or future uncontrolable events.

3.) Never make them think that people do not change. Anyone and Everything can change at any moment in life.

4.) When you have made a mistake and realize it....don't be ashamed to speak up and say I am sorry and tell them what for.

These are just a few things I have learned over the years. If you have any more good suggestions. Please share them with us. All comments are welcome.