Feelings come in all shapes and sizes for children. And when parents, teachers, providers, etc. help children to express and understand their emotions, we are helping them to overcome challenges, understand others, and how to communicate effectively. From happy, sad, frustrated and anxious- there are everyday ways we can support our kiddos with everything they feel.
Expressing Emotions:
If you notice your kiddo if having trouble verbalizing their feelings, encourage them to express themselves in other ways! Ask them to act it out and work through their biggest feelings while using their imagination. If they don’t feel like moving, encourage them to draw out their emotions. Help them along the way with questions like “draw me a happy thing that happened today” or “draw something that makes you feel sad”. Finally, use books as a window into emotions. My story “It’s Brave to Cry” is a great example of a book with characters working through their own emotions with the reader.
Overall, when you see your little one frustrated or upset, encourage them to release those feelings instead of keeping them inside. Remind them to take deep breaths and encourage them to process their feelings in whatever way makes them most comfortable and feel heard. Most importantly, remind them that it is brave to cry. Because hiding your feelings is not the brave thing to do, but letting them out is!
Why I Cry
