Helping Kids Understand and Manage Big Emotions
We’ve all seen it—one moment your child is giggling over something silly, and the next, they’re overwhelmed, upset, or even melting down. For children, emotions can feel huge and confusing. As adults, it’s easy to forget just how intense the world can seem through a child’s eyes.
We believe emotional development is just as important as learning to read or tie shoes. When kids learn how to understand and manage their feelings, they’re building lifelong skills for wellbeing, relationships, and resilience.
So, how can you support your child’s emotional growth? Let’s explore.
💬 What Is Emotional Literacy?
Emotional literacy is the ability to recognise, understand, and express emotions in healthy ways. It’s the foundation of emotional regulation—something many adults are still working on too!
Children who are emotionally literate tend to:
Cope better with stress
Communicate more effectively
Build stronger relationships
Feel more confident and in control
When your child can say, “I feel frustrated because I lost my toy,” instead of throwing it across the room, you know you’re heading in the right direction.
👪 5 Ways to Help Your Child with Big Feelings
1. Name It to Tame It
When children can name what they’re feeling, the emotion becomes less overwhelming.
Try: “You look frustrated. Want to tell me about it?”
You’re helping them connect language with emotion—a huge step toward regulation.
2. Validate First, Problem-Solve Later
Children need to feel understood before they can move forward.
Try: “That really hurt your feelings, didn’t it?”
Avoid jumping to “fix it” mode right away. Just being heard can calm a storm.
3. Use Play and Stories
Kids process feelings through play and imagination.
Use books about emotions, draw how the day felt, or let dolls act out a tough moment. These tools open conversations in a natural, pressure-free way.
4. Teach Simple Calming Tools
Introduce easy techniques like:
Deep belly breathing
“Blow out the candle” finger breathing: You ask the child to imagine they’re holding a candle in front of them (or they can even hold up a finger like it’s a candle). Then you guide them through a slow, controlled breath out—just like they’re gently blowing out a birthday candle
Squeezing a soft toy or stress ball
Creating a calm-down space at home
When practiced regularly, these tools become second nature.
5. Be the Calm in Their Chaos
Children mirror adult behaviour. When you model emotional regulation, they learn by example.
Say things like:
“I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a breath before we talk.”
🌱 Final Thoughts
Emotions aren’t something to “fix” or avoid—they’re natural, healthy signals. With support, children can learn that emotions are manageable, even the tough ones.
