Emotions, behavior, and discipline

Your Cancer child is one of the three water signs. Water is associated with emotions. Cancers process the world through their feelings first. “They feel everything” is an understatement. As a Cardinal sign, they seek to direct parents, friends, and siblings towards feeling better and getting along. Your Cancer child will feel the vibe in a room and start acting bubbly or silly to bring levity to a serious or tense situation. Suppose tension is bad enough in the home or elsewhere. In that case, they will leave the situation and protect their emotions by hiding in their shell. A helpful tool for parents would be learning non-violent communication techniques to model healthy conflict resolution. This style of communication will make your Cancer child feel confident and safe in their family. It will allow them to process their emotions and come out of their protective shell.

Teach your Cancer to trust themselves by showing them that you trust and respect what they feel. However, there is a difference between accepting your Cancer’s feelings and allowing bad behavior. Overwhelmed by emotions, Cancers may take longer than other kids to verbally express how they feel. The better you express your feelings from an authentic and compassionate place, the better chance your Cancer child will be able to express him or herself. When a Cancer child feels stifled, they will act out through hitting others or slamming doors. Tell them that it is okay to feel mad or sad, but find a better way to feel those feelings by talking about it or expressing themselves through creativity.

Cancers are imaginative and creative. They like to play make-believe, read, draw, paint, dress up or create new spaces with sheets and blankets. If they need to yell or hit, have them take it out on a pillow or a ball outside. It is also crucial to hug your Cancer child tightly and for extended periods with their permission. This makes them feel safe and helps to alleviate their emotional overwhelm. When upset, it is beneficial to hug them until they feel better. If they ask for space, give it to them, but always let them know you will be there to listen when they are ready to talk.

Cancers are one of the most nonjudgmental of the signs and are very sensitive to judgment. Never tell them not to feel a certain way, even if they are upset with you and hurt your feelings. Acceptance of their feelings will lead to easier conflict resolution and understanding. Encourage your Cancer to make friends and join in when other kids are playing. They are naturally shy when young. They are content standing on the sidelines. They will also daydream all day long, but like everyone, Cancers need to connect with their peers to grow and learn how to embody their space in this world. Their sensitivity will make them want to escape, so building up their self-esteem and confidence will help keep them on the right track and choose the healthiest friends.