What makes children feel emotionally invisible at home, even when we are around them?

Children do not associate emotional presence with physical proximity. Even when a parent is around, a child may still experience emotional isolation. A youngster starts to internalise that their emotional world is undesirable when their words are dismissed, their minor pleasures are ignored, or their annoyances are called ‘overreacting.’ They may gradually come to believe that their sentiments are not worthy of someone’s undivided attention if they receive a lot of hurried responses, lack of eye contact, or inattentive nods. Inattention, not absence, is the root cause of emotional invisibility. Kids must feel truly noticed, not just controlled. Take a moment to stoop at their level, listen to their stories, see their drawings, and reflect back to them what they have said. A child receives the message, ‘You matter to me,’ from these tiny gestures of approval. They do not always speak up when ignored; instead, they frequently withdraw in silence.