Facing Big Feelings
Just because kids are little doesn't mean they don't have big emotions. Sometimes dealing with those emotions can be a struggle for both children and their parents. Giving names to those feelings helps kids feel confident facing and managing them the next time they occur.
- Pick three emotions (like happy, angry, and sad).
- Make a face that matches each one of the emotions.
- Ask your child to guess the emotion and then talk about each one.
When kids learn about emotions, they’re able to better understand their own feelings. This can help them stay calm and deal with challenges in a more positive way. It also builds social skills that will help them feel empathy and understand what those around them might be experiencing. These skills build more kindness and better relationships, now and in the future.
Try this next:
It can be challenging to face big emotions like sadness, fear, or anger, but giving them a name can help make them easier to identify and understand. Try talking with your kids about them, your calm words are a great example for them to learn from. Here are some things you can try:
- Ask your child to tell you how the characters in a book or video are feeling.
- At dinnertime, talk about an emotion one of you felt earlier that day and why.
- When a challenging or unique situation comes up, ask your child to pause and tell you about what they’re feeling.