Why Children Should Never Be 'Shushed' When Crying

Scientific analysis endorses the theory that crying makes humans feel happier and healthier. The most immediate reflex to a child crying is to stop them from crying as quickly as possible.

Tears really do heal. Crying does make us feel healthier and joyous as research has shown. It's a natural part of the body's healing process from distress and anxiety.

But why cry? A newborn's first speech is in the form of crying. They cry to exhibit their needs and to undertake the new experiences thrown at them by the world. In their first year of life, it's only quite normal for a baby to have big cries every day.

After looking into the chemical composition of the tears shed due to emotional reasons, bio-chemist Dr. William Frey, in a research as cited on APA, found out that those tears comprised of the stress hormone cortisol.

The language of emotions is gestural and non-verbal. The home of emotions in the human brain, the limbic system, is fully formed before birth whereas the pre-frontal cortex commonly referred to as the home of language is not fully developed until adulthood hits.

In the process of making sense of new things, the release of fervent emotions plays a part. According to "The Sun", when peace is re-established in the home of emotions part of the brain, the limbic system, the child can access their pre-frontal cortex more easily and can talk about what happened.

Even at a mature age, the pre-frontal cortex does not work properly when the individual succumbs to intense emotions. It is often hard to put feelings into words in such a state. The need to cry does not entirely leave even when a child grows up to express their needs into words.

The question then arises how do should adults deal with crying children? When children cry, adults unconsciously respond with their own experience in childhood from elders.

An upset child needs a listener. Mirror neurons in the brain recreate and mirror the moods of others in the surroundings. A relaxed parent is a stimulus for an upset child to come and release all their tension and to restore his/her internal emotional equilibrium.

The result of leaving a baby alone to 'cry it out' is in a release of relatively high amount of stress hormone because they might feel abandoned and in immediate danger. Crying and tantrums are nothing else except an exhibition of feelings.

It is a dynamic boost the child's self-esteem to know that adults still think they are a good person, even when they are emotionally unsettled. By being an undisturbed calm presence for a child, adults may ensure that they feel safe even if they're afraid and also they can let go of their feelings easily.

The gift of communication and most importantly listening is the best thing to give to children. Crying is not at all to be assumed as bad parenting. It is In fact an optimistic approach, proving that the child feels safe enough to share their big feelings.

This suggests when individuals cry for emotional reasons, stress is literally released from the systems. Crying plays an important role in the recovery process.