Talking to Your Child About Emotions
When your child learns how to identify and express his feelings, it can help him develop the skills to manage them. It’s important as a parent to encourage your child to express his emotions, so he can perform better at school, have improved social relationships, and be less likely to have behavioral problems. Here’s how you can foster the emotional intelligence of your child.
Always Support
Talking things out with your child is one of the best things you can do for when he’s feeling down. In order to diffuse his emotions, talk to him about the anxiety or anger that was provoked in the situation. When you are responsive to his feelings, it reduces the risks of emotional disorders later in life. Asking simple questions like “What are you afraid of?” can be the start of building your support base. Start by tuning into the cues he displays, such as body language and behavioral patterns.
Don’t Invalidate Emotions
What may seem little to you could feel like the world to him. With that said, don’t downplay or invalidate his fears and worries. It’s normal to worry, feel angry, frustrated, and he needs to know that everyone feels this way sometimes. It’s all about how he manages it. Be present, and remember that if his feelings are being minimized or dismissed, it could lead to him expressing himself in unhealthy ways.
Provide Tools
In order for your child to learn how to deal with difficult situations, you must provide the tools for him to apply. Do not simply say, “It’s going to be okay.” New situations can sometimes call for new coping mechanisms. What may work for one circumstance may not work on another. For instance, if your child is nervous about starting school, then you would have a discussion with questions designed for that specific event that is causing him to be anxious, such as:
Are you nervous about meeting new people?
What do you think you are expected to do?
Additionally, hands-on tools like The Emotions Kit provide your child with resources, such as worksheets, games, and cards, that can be used to foster his emotional intelligence. The kit was designed to help parents communicate with their children about emotions.
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