Learn how to teach kids about emotions with these tips!
Taking time to teach kids about emotions is an important parenting task. We all have had moments of tantrums and struggles with kids, it is part of parenting. Teaching our kids how to handle and cope with all of the feelings that come, is key to helping them grow up with healthy coping skills.
How to Teach Kids About Emotions
Talk about emotions with your kids.
Kids are experiencing so many feelings. It is helpful to sit and talk with them about all of the emotions. This helps normalize feelings and encourage them to verbalize feelings in a healthy way.
Start teaching kids about emotions early!
It is exhausting but good work. Take the time to talk about feelings from a young age and you will see the fruits from this.
At young ages, it is helpful to be on their level and to even play alongside your kids so you can intervene and teach and train.
Make sure you are modeling healthy coping skills.
Our kids are constantly watching us. They see when we have anger over the person who cuts us off in traffic. Obviously, no parent is perfect but we can be intentional in how we are modeling coping skills.
When you do handle your emotions in an unhealthy way and your child witnesses, it is a great opportunity to talk to them about it. This will help your kids realize that no one is perfect and we can always make things right.
Use hands-on activities for teaching.
Kids learn so well through hands-on activities. Use the My Emotions Printables to help you work through emotions. This printable packet includes:
- Play Dough Face Mats- You can create different faces on the faces and talk about the emotions.
- I Feel… Sheets- These worksheets are great to help kids work through setting up a plan for the hard emotions.
- Emoji Memory- Have fun with playing Memory with the Emoji faces.
- Feelings Sheet- This sheet is perfect to print and have on hand for when your child is struggling. Giving your child a word for their feelings is so helpful!
Notice the healthy responses.
As parents, we can often get fixated on the areas where improvement is needed. While we will be correcting where it is needed, make a big deal out of seeing your child handle their emotions in a healthy way.
Make sure to get the My Emotions Printable packet here!
How do you teach kids about emotions? Share your tips in the comments!
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