Ali and Imran are cousins, both are friends and study in the same class. But Ali got more marks than Imran. Now Imran is jealous of his cousin. Jealousy is a natural emotion that comes to our minds automatically and no one can have control over it. It is like a never-ending stream of water. Though it doesn't mean we should be rude to others however we can work on the intensity of jealousy. Jealousy is also seen in children. It is common for many children to be jealous of their siblings or cousins of identical ages. But if you as a parent know how to deal with your children's emotions, you can guide your children in the right direction. Here are some tips to help you overcome jealousy.
1) CONGRATULATE YOUR CHILD:
If a child admits that I am jealous of someone, then as a parent you do not need to scold your child for that. First of all, congratulate him for pointing out the negative traits in him or her and it is good that he is showing honest behaviour. Tell them, “It’s okay for a child to feel jealous, angry, or sad. They are all-natural emotions.”
2) PRACTICE GRATITUDE:
Make a habit of thanking Allah all the time. This softens our children's hearts and keeps them away from jealousy. Convince the children that if Allah has given a special blessing to one human being, then Allah has blessed you in another way as well.
3) CHILDREN NEED LOVE MORE THAN ANY THINGS:
Many parents think that if we give our children a lot of toys or if we provide all kinds of facilities like a laptop, tablet, internet connection and all kinds of stuff that a child may love and they will become very good human beings and jealousy will not pass by them, then they are on fault. Children always need our time and love rather than materialistic things. Analyse the amount of attention each child in the family is getting. Give equal love and attention to all your kids. That way you won't let your children develop the habit of jealousy.
4) REALIZE THE PERCEPTION OF SUCCESS AND LOSS:
Make children believe that defeat and victory are both parts of life. And instead of being jealous of someone's victory, we should promise ourselves that next time we will win like the one in front. In this regard, your children will acknowledge their weaknesses which is extremely helpful for them.
5) MAKE THE CHILDREN GOOD LEARNERS:
Focus on learning instead of getting marks in exams, this way the child is mentally prepared that he is studying not for getting good marks but for gaining knowledge. In this regard, even if the marks are low, the child will not be jealous of anyone. Also, he or she will gain a sense of self-satisfaction.
6) TAKE ONE AS AN INSPIRATION:
Jealousy in children is natural and inevitable. Therefore, there are two ways in front of him, one is to work hard for something to get it and the other is to come out negatively. Teach children not to be jealous if they like someone because of their looks or big names in society, but take it as inspiration. In this regard, parents have to play their role and encourage them and help them to get the place as per their desire.
7) ASSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT:
Sibling rivalry arises when they see that their parents do not give equal importance and love to each of them. Sometimes parents do this for reasons such as a child doing very well in studies, he or she is more responsible compared to his/her sibling. But as a parent, it is our responsibility to go beyond these things and love our children the way they deserve.
IN A NUTSHELL:
It’s normal for children to feel jealous of one another but as a parent, it is our responsibility to keep it within an appropriate limit. If we keep an eye on these seven tips and normalize them in our daily lives, our children will not fall into the habit of jealousy. Let your kids know that sometimes you also feel jealous but also tell them how you deal with that kind of feeling.