A screaming child is normal… But it’s also unpleasant. A sophrologist gives her method for letting it express itself, while sparing our eardrums.
Joy, fear, anger, frustration… Children express many things by shouting. And that’s perfectly normal, no offense to those who glare at parents as soon as a child has the misfortune of making a little noise in a public space. “I often consult parents who come to see me because their child is very agitated and cries a lot at home. Screaming is normal, and it’s even a good thing to let it out.”explains Sophie Le Millour, sophrologist specializing in supporting children, in a video published on TikTok.
A child who cries, therefore, is not badly brought up. But we must admit that it is not pleasant when the screams come from all directions, and it becomes difficult to hear and be heard. “Screaming all over the house is not necessarily appropriate”recognizes the expert. So how do you find the right balance between letting children express themselves and preserving your hearing?
@sophielemillour Do you have an agitated child who cries often? It’s normal and even beneficial to express your emotions. But shouting everywhere, I admit that it is not ideal. That’s why I created the scream box. Take a shoebox, decorate it with your child and explain to them that they can scream in it. It’s a dedicated space where he has the right to express his excitement. If things ever get out of hand, you can remind him: “Hey! That’s what the scream box is there for. Then, there’s the post-scream ritual: take three deep breaths together to slowly lower the level of excitement. A little moment of calm after the storm feels good, right? #sophrology #parentality #emotions #children #labulledesemotions original sound – Sophie Le Millour
This sophrologist recommends that parents (or any other person caring for children) test a system which, she has observed, has proven effective in “channeling cries”. This is the scream box, the principle of which is simple and easy to set up: you take a shoe box or a piece of cardboard that closes, and you decorate it with the help of the child (which will allow you to have a good time with the family at the same time). You can also make a hole in which you place a tube of toilet paper or paper towels. Once the scream box is completed, we explain to the child that, when he wants or needs to scream, he can open it and scream into it, then close it, or scream into the tube.
It works, because the child knows he has the right to scream, so he will do it in this place. And if the child ever gets overwhelmed and cries, the parent can always remind them: “Hey, there’s the scream box that’s there for that,” says Sophie Le Millour, who adds that you shouldn’t stop at screaming. Once the child has screamed a good bit in his box, we finish by taking three deep breaths together to “come down a little in the level of excitement”.
