Teach Your Child About Emotions
Ever tried to decode a toddler meltdown and felt like you were defusing a bomb with a spaghetti spoon? Welcome to the emotional Olympics, where the rules change hourly and everyone’s a gold medalist in drama. If you’ve ever asked, 'Are you mad or just hungry?' and gotten a shriek in response, this is your playbook for making feelings slightly less terrifying (for both of you).
Helping kids name and understand their feelings actually wires up the emotional parts of their brains—hello, future emotional intelligence! When you talk about feelings, you’re literally building their self-regulation toolkit, making them less likely to punch their sibling over snack rights. For parents, it’s a sanity-saver and can lower your own stress hormones (cortisol, anyone?) when you realize the meltdown isn’t personal—it’s just feelings, not a referendum on your parenting.
How to do it
Start by naming your own feelings out loud. For example, you might say, “I’m tired and wish coffee counted as a vegetable.” This helps your child see that everyone has emotions and it’s okay to talk about them.
Use picture books, stuffed animals, or even your own facial expressions to act out different emotions. Ask your child to guess what feeling is being shown. This makes learning about emotions fun and interactive.
When your child is upset, try saying, “I see you’re feeling ___,” instead of telling them to stop crying. This shows that you notice and respect their feelings, which helps them feel understood.
Praise any attempt your child makes at naming or expressing their feelings, even if it’s just a dramatic sigh. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep trying.
Repeat these steps as often as needed—sometimes, that might mean every five minutes for the next decade!
Key Tips:
- Be a role model by talking about your own emotions openly.
- Use play and stories to make learning about feelings engaging.
- Validate your child’s emotions instead of dismissing them.
- Celebrate all efforts, big or small, to express feelings.
- Consistency is key; keep practicing together.
