How to Help Children Deal With Expressing Their Emotions

Talk about how to manage emotions.

Virtually all adults know what it is like to deal with powerful emotions. Whether it is anger or sadness, learning how to manage those feelings is essential in daily life. Children deal with many of the same feelings as adults. Due to their limited cognitive abilities and lack of maturity, expressing those emotions in the proper way is difficult. Learn how to help children deal with expressing their emotions and help shape children into well-adjusted adults.

Things You'll Need

• Journal
• Pen

Instructions

1. Help the child put her feelings into words. Let her know that you understand that she is feeling certain emotions. Tell her a sentence that might convey what she's feeling. If she is crying, tell her that when you cry, it is because you're sad. Ask her if that is how she feels as well.

2. Give him examples of specific situations and the commonly associated emotions. If you see someone injure himself, ask the child how he thinks the person feels.

3. Discuss ways of handling negative emotions. Give her techniques to calm down when she's sad or angry. When children are upset, they are not usually able to convey their feelings well. Once she is calm, urge her to talk with you about she feels at the time.

4. Give her a special journal and pen for writing down intense emotions or feelings. Explain to her that writing them down can help her feel better. Let her pick it out a special journal and pen. Make it clear to her that you will not look at her journal. It is just for her to express herself.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider taking a child to counseling if the methods do not work.

References

• PBS: Dealing with Feelings: Emotional Health
• Vanderbilt University: Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning