In my last post, I asked you to start considering ways in which children may express their emotions in ways other than directly talking about their own emotions.   I promised a follow up post sharing some specific ideas and here it is!

The dictionary defines express as:

• to put (thought) into words; utter or state
• to show, manifest, or reveal
• to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself), as in speaking, writing, or painting
• to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula

The ideas that I share in this post could be used as ways to help children express their emotions, but can also be very helpful in processing and coping with emotions.   For the purposes of this post, I consider an idea creative or “outside of the box” if it goes beyond just expecting children to verbally share their emotions with us.  If you observe your children, you may realize that they are already using some of the techniques described below to process their emotions or situations that they have encountered.   Other children may benefit from being given permission to use one of the following techniques to share their emotions.

Continue reading Thinking Outside of the Box: Creative Ways to Help Children Express Their Emotions (Part 2) →

As parents or caregivers, I believe one of our most important tasks is to help our children learn to identify, share and cope with their emotions (feelings).   In a previous post, I wrote about helping children build their feelings vocabulary.

One of the best ways to help children begin to identify, share and cope with their emotions is by supporting them in doing so in the moment, as they are experiencing an emotion.   It can be helpful for the parent or caregiver to have a hunch about what the child is feeling and what the contributing factors may be.  Our hunches may be wrong, but they give us a starting point in trying to support children in sharing and coping with their emotions.

Continue reading Assessing Your Child’s Emotions →

I often talk to parents about being open to having their children express their emotions (feelings) through means other than words.   Art, music and play are just a few of the powerful ways in which children communicate and share their emotions with us.  I have learned so much about how children understand the world by just playing with them.  Having said that, there are many reasons why it is valuable to help children build a feelings vocabulary  and comfort in discussing their emotions.

The Benefits of Building Your Child’s Feelings Vocabulary

• When children are able to identify their emotions, they can more effectively ask for help when they are experiencing an overwhelming emotion.
• Being able to speak about their own emotions helps children in their relationships with others because they are better able to communicate and engage in conflict resolution.
• Being able to identify one’s own emotions is the first step in being able to develop empathy for others.

Continue reading Building Your Child’s Feelings Vocabulary →