Parents often say “Don’t cry” out of love or in an attempt to encourage strength, but the hidden message can be damaging: “Your feelings are not allowed.”
Crying is a natural and healthy way of releasing emotions. When children are stopped from crying, they learn to suppress their feelings and pretend to be strong instead of processing emotions.
Allowing children to express sadness or fear, while offering comfort and emotional support, teaches them that emotions are normal, not a weakness.
This builds emotional intelligence and resilience, making them stronger in facing life’s challenges later on.
