Knowledge is power. The more educated you are about depression, its signs and its causes, the more aware you will be if it becomes a problem for your child. Your child needs to understand depression, too. It's not necessary to talk to your child about depression when she has never experienced it, but you do want to address any symptoms she may be exhibiting. Rather than lecturing her about depression itself, help her to understand the importance of communicating her feelings to you so that you can help her.

Modeling

Imitating preventative behaviors is a great way to teach your child the same skills without boring her to death with a lecture! Children and teenagers listen to about the first thirty seconds of what you are saying and then they begin to tune you out. Haven't you ever noticed the glazed-over look in her eyes when you are talking? She has merely stopped listening and has not one bit of interest in what you are saying!

Do you remember the old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do”? Teenagers are particularly adept at using that argument. He will be the first one to ask, “Why should I do it (whatever it is at the moment) if you don't do it?” Actually, he has a point. A child learns a lot by watching you. If you consistently do things to prevent depression or symptoms of it, your child will see that these skills benefit you and he will be more likely to take your advice. You don't even have to say anything — your actions will speak louder and teach your child more than your words.

Combat Skills

As communication skills help your child express feelings and thoughts that can possibly lead to depression, you can also pass on combat skills to prevent depression's grip. Unfortunately, sometimes the best way to teach your child how to cope with life's difficult moments is to let her live through them. You cannot protect her from every hurt she will experience and every mistake she will make. Hurt feelings, pain, and mistakes are inevitable. But the lessons learned can be invaluable.

When you support your child through the little things that cause her discomfort, you are preparing her for the bigger obstacles that life has in store for her. Combat skills are not designed to help her avoid those obstacles, but they will help her fight them and come out ahead.

So what if your child makes a choice to do something that leads to more trouble? Your intervention needs to be in the form of listening, not lecturing. She needs a sympathetic ear, and someone to help her bounce back. Ask her what led her to make that specific choice. Did things turn out the way she had hoped and expected? What could she have done differently? Is there anything she can do now to improve the situation? Offer suggestions, but force her to sift through her options on her own. This will not only help her to accept responsibility for her actions, but it will also help her to see that most mistakes are not permanent. She will actively see that she does have the ability to change and make different choices.

Character is developed through adversity. As long as your child is not in danger of hurting herself or others, allowing her to make some of her own choices and mistakes is a gift you can give to her. As she learns better combat skills through every battle she fights, she will develop a stronger sense of self. These combat skills will also prepare her to fight off depression if it comes along.