Struggling to connect with your child’s emotions? Discover how to help your little one express themselves in healthy ways. Our School Principal from Ma On Shan campus, Ms Luby, shares some simple tips that can make a big difference!
#1
Name the feeling
Build emotional vocabularies with your child. This will help them learn the basics of expressing their feelings appropriately.
When you teach your child to name feelings when they occur, your child will build an emotional vocabulary over time and get to the point where they are able to identify those feelings and talk to you about them. This will then help them learn the basics of expressing their feelings appropriately.
#2
Talk about how feelings can be expressed
Set a good example yourself by talking about your own feelings and describe how to best express those feelings.
The best way to teach your children to express their feelings is to set a good example yourself. Start by talking about your own feelings and describe how to best express those feelings. You can also create opportunities for your child to come up with solutions for various situations, and then discuss why they are or are not appropriate.
#3
Offer a deep nurturing connection
Help your child to reconnect when they have a meltdown, give your child a hug when they get rough which helps them to regulate their emotions.
While babies are soothed by their parents, toddlers and pre-schoolers need to bond and feel connected to mum and dad in order to regulate and deal with their emotions. When you notice your child getting upset or overwhelmed, the best thing you can do for him/her is to reconnect. We hug our children when the going gets rough, as this has shown to do wonders in regulating their emotions.
#4
Resist the urge to punish
Manage your child’s emotions in positive ways. Speak in a proper tone of voice and their bad emotions are not to be blamed.
Do help your child to process and manage their emotions in positive ways. Leading through good example can include speaking in a proper tone of voice and not yelling. Giving them activities that allow them to express their emotions can include drawing and shaping with playdough.
#5
Praise and practice
Give praise and feel proud of your child whenever he/she talks about his/her feelings.
Give praises to your child whenever he/she talks about his/her feelings. This brings across the message that he/she did the right thing and that you are proud of him/her for reaching out to you and talk about feelings. The more your children get to do this, the faster they will learn to regulate their emotions independently.
Reference: https://www.mindchamps.org/blog/help-children-identify-express-emotions/
