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I'm A Family Therapist, Here's Why You Should Never Say 'Stop Crying' To Kids

14 6
04.02.2025

A therapist has advised against telling kids to 'stop crying'.

Telling an upset child to “stop crying” might seem like a well-meaning attempt to soothe them and quickly restore a sense of peace to the situation.

But a leading family psychotherapist has warned that repeatedly encouraging them to suppress their emotions could prove harmful in the long-run.

Speaking exclusively to HuffPost UK, Fiona Yassin, a family psychotherapist, said: “Crying is a natural way for a child or young person to express emotions like stress, anger, or fear. It’s a crucial part of healthy emotional development.

“When a parent tells a child to stop crying, they are invalidating that child’s feelings and encouraging them to repress their emotions and true feelings.”

Why you might want to avoid saying ‘stop crying’

The therapist, who is the founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, said kids who are routinely told to stop crying might end up being unsure of how to express their emotions in the future, which could lead to potentially harmful or risk-taking behaviours.

“A child might think, ‘What I’m feeling........

© HuffPost