Crying is Healthy For Kids; It’s Part of Growth – Catholic Counsellor Urges Parents to Stay Firm
Suppressing tears can stunt emotional growth, says Rev. Fr. Akosah
- Crying helps children develop emotional resilience and maturity
- Nutrition, home, school, and siblings all impact child development
- A strong bond and balanced discipline shape a child’s behavior
Rev. Father Dr. Peter Akosah, a Catholic Priest and Counsellor, has advised parents to stay calm and firm when their children cry or express emotions, stressing that crying is a natural and healthy part of childhood development.
Speaking during an interview on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show on Lawson TV/Radio, Fr. Akosah emphasized that child development is a multi-faceted process that begins early in life.
“The first stage of child development starts from age 1 to 11,” he said. “This is a critical period where a child’s personality, values, and emotional strength are formed.”
He also pointed out the biological importance of parental health and nutrition prior to and during conception.
“Whatever we eat as partners produces the outcome of a child,” he noted. According to him, harmful substances or unhealthy habits can negatively affect a child’s behavior and development even before birth.
Fr. Akosah explained that behavioral issues such as domineering tendencies and other signs of delinquency can stem from a combination of biological, environmental, and social factors. These include school environments, sibling interactions, and most importantly, parental upbringing.
He outlined various parenting styles—authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive—and encouraged parents to build strong, communicative relationships with their children.
“Create a bond between you and your child so they can share their ideas. And if there’s a need to discipline, do so with understanding,” he said.
One of the central messages from Fr. Akosah was about the emotional development of children, particularly in how they express feelings like sadness and frustration.
“If a child is crying because you didn’t give them something they requested, let them cry,” he advised. “Crying is not harmful. It’s a natural way for children to express emotion, build resilience, and grow emotionally.”
He warned that suppressing children’s emotions can lead to emotional immaturity in the future. “If you never allow your child to express their emotions, including through crying, you may end up dealing with deeper emotional struggles as they grow older,” he said.
Fr. Akosah encouraged parents to set boundaries but to also explain their decisions in a calm and respectful manner. “Understanding boundaries is important for their maturity. Let them know why you said no, but don’t feel pressured to give in to every demand.”
He urged parents not to see crying as a failure or a sign of poor parenting. Rather, he described it as a sign of emotional growth and part of a healthy developmental process.
“Young people challenge, push back, and express themselves emotionally as they learn. That’s healthy,” he said.
Fr. Akosah’s words serve as a timely reminder that patience, firmness, and empathy are essential tools in raising emotionally strong and balanced children.
