When we ask children what they are thinking about they say ‘nothing’. When children ask other children what they are doing or saying they say ‘nothing’. Nothing is such a non-descript word but it can also be a hurtful word when said from by one child to another.
My example, a child walks upto their peers and wants to join in the conversation. They say, ‘What are you talking about?’ The other children say ‘nothing’. The first child immediately thinks that they are either talking about them, think they were sharing a secret or that they did not want them to join in THAT conversation.
I had a session recently with a young girl recently about exactly this and together we changed her way of thinking and what ‘nothing’ really means.
‘Nothing’ means;
- It is not interesting enough to share
- We have finished our conversation already
- We are talking about something that would not interest you
- Whatever they were talking about is too difficult to explain/start from the beginning
She realised that with friends you are comfortable with, there is no hidden agenda, there is no bad intention when they use THAT word.
Do we use it too much and why do you and your children say it?
Naomi Richards is The Kids Coach. She provides life coaching for children who need help with any behavioural and emotional issues that they have. She provides a space for children to talk confidentially about why they are unhappy and helps them resolve their problems in an interactive, creative and supportive way. The issues Naomi helps children with are around parent separation, self-esteem, confidence, friendship, bullying, anxiety and any other home or school related problem. Naomi works face to face with children, via Skype and runs workshops during the year on a variety of subjects. She is also a media spokesperson and has appeared on radio and in local and national press. See her website for more details. 
