FaceTime shows it being super effective for social emotional learning when kids interact with grandma, aunt, uncle, a friend of the parent. They can see their actions, their re- actions, and they can hear words. While they can get that from mom and dad, they can also get through the app. WAYS TO HELP Teaching language, modeling behavior, and understanding why a child is acting the way they are is a great way to start helping boys learn to express their emotions. Responding to a feeling without endorsing the behavior is also a way to help grow language. “I can see you’re really upset. I’m not going to let you hit me, and I want to understand what happened.” To help a child learn language, especial- ly emotional language, Dr. Lucker says it’s important to have parents mirror things such as talking about feelings or working through feelings. “It’s okay for a parent to cry in front of a kid,” Dr. Lucker emphasizes. “If their kid sees that their parent is crying, talk about it.” Boys need to see adults handling sadness, disappointment, without shame, says Dr. Lucker. It is okay to model feelings, model
emotions. She explains that you can model strength and vulnerability at the same time, and they can coexist together. If a boy is older, say elementary, middle, and high school, and a parent is
RESOURCES LIST Baton Rouge General Behavioral Wellness Center brgeneral.org
still noticing patterns of irritability, disrupted relationships at home, at
Beacon Behavioral beaconbh.com
school, they can’t hold a friend, they’re withdrawn—that’s when Dr. Lucker says it might be time to consider going to see a therapist. A lot of times, irritability, lashing out, and anxiety can be undiagnosed ADHD as well. “Especially ADHD oftentimes really comes out in middle school because in elementary school, they’re the class clown, they’re hyper, but they can kind of get through it. But in middle school, when the academics are more demanding, that’s when really specific learning disorders are coming out, ADHD’s coming out. That’s when we’re figuring out maybe this is going on, what’s driving that avoidance, that anxiety, that irritability,” says Dr. Lucker. LOCAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR CHILD These behavioral health centers offer coun- seling, psychiatric care, and family support services for children, teens, and adults. Baton
CareSouth Medical & Dental caresouth.org
Family Focus familyfocusbr.com
Genesis Behavioral Health Services genesisholisticbr.com
Magnolia Therapy Group magnoliatherapygrp.com
Refinery Counseling Center refinerycounselingcenter.com Regions Behavioral Hospital regionsbh.com
The Baton Rouge Clinic Psychiatry batonrougeclinic.com
Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry thriveworks.com
BRPARENTS.COM | MAY 2026
27
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator