Children, like adults, experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anger, fear, frustration, and anxiety. But unlike us, they have yet to learn how to express and articulate their feelings healthily. And that can cause problems.

Those “problems?” If you’ve spent time around children, you know about tantrums, outbursts, social isolation, and other self-destructive behaviors.

For instance, 12-year-old James feels furious after a fight with his best friend during a soccer game. They argue, and James storms off, overwhelmed by anger and regret.

His parents can offer support by giving him space to process his emotions or lending a listening ear. Once he’s ready, they can help him explore healthy coping strategies.

As parents, it is our responsibility to help our children understand and manage their difficult emotions. And that’s what we’re here to discuss.

In fact, there’s so much to discuss that we’ll go with two parts. Here we’ll handle understanding children’s emotions and creating a safe place for emotional expression. And we’ll review healthy ways to express difficult emotions and the power of play and storytelling in part two.

Let’s go…

Understanding children’s emotions

Children’s emotions, whether big or small, are important and real. Moreover, they show their feelings in various ways, which may vary based on their age and personality.

For instance, infants and toddlers typically express their emotions through crying, smiling, and other physical cues. As they grow older, they become better at identifying and expressing their feelings through words.

Influencing factors

Temperament, which refers to a person’s natural tendencies, inclinations, traits, and dispositions, also influences how children experience and express emotions. Some children may be naturally more sensitive or prone to intense emotional reactions, while others may be more even-tempered.

Additionally, cultural norms, family dynamics, environmental factors such as socioeconomic status, and exposure to trauma can impact children’s emotions.

Parents and caregivers can help children learn how to regulate their emotions and cope with stressors effectively. This includes recognizing and labeling their emotions, understanding the triggers that cause them, and learning appropriate ways to express and manage their feelings.

Creating a safe place for emotional expression

Openly communicate, listen, respect, build trust

Emotional expression is important because it can help kids regulate and release their pent-up feelings. Suppressing emotions can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and even physical health problems while healthily expressing them can promote emotional wellness and resilience.

A safe space allows kids to express their emotions without fear of judgment or rejection. When their emotions are validated, they feel heard, understood, and valued. It also allows them to process and manage their emotions healthily.

Helping to create a safe place

Here are various ways you can help create a safe space for your child…

• Practice open communication and active listening
• Build a foundation of trust by showing empathy, respect, and acceptance
• Let them know their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are valued and heard
• Listen attentively by providing them with your full presence and attention

The next step is to acknowledge and validate their emotions even if you don’t agree with their views.

If a child is not ready to talk about a particular topic, respect their decision. However, continue offering support and guidance as they explore and overcome their emotions.

Build trust and emotional vocabulary

When children trust their caregivers, they feel safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This trust and willingness to engage in conversations about emotions pave the way for kids to develop an emotional vocabulary.

Developing an emotional vocabulary enables children to better understand and articulate their feelings. The first step is to teach them to label emotions.

You can use picture books and flashcards to illustrate different emotions.

An emotion wheel for kids can also help them understand different emotions, from basic ones such as happiness and sadness to more complex ones such as elated or miserable.

And an emotion wheel can help kids see how different emotions are connected and identify the root cause of their emotions. Kids can use it when they want to label their feelings.

Much more to share

So that will do it for part one – our foundation, if you will.

There’s so much more to share, so be sure to come back for healthy ways to express difficult emotions and the power of play and storytelling in part two. It’ll be up shortly.

Be sure to check out Michael’s work at Mental Health Center Kids.

And don’t forget about those Chipur info and inspiration article titles.

Michael is a licensed clinical social worker with a private therapy practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He specializes in helping children and teens with mental health concerns. He is passionate about providing effective and compassionate care. He is an advocate for mental health awareness, and is the founder of Mental Health Center Kids, a website that provides resources and support for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals who care for children and teens.