Teaching Emotions

Understanding and managing emotions is an essential part of childhood development. Children often experience big emotions that they may not yet have the words to describe. Through play, you can teach your child how to identify, express, and regulate their emotions. Here’s how you can use playful activities to develop emotional intelligence at home.

1. Name the Feeling

Help your child recognize and name their emotions by associating them with familiar scenarios.
Try This:

• "When you’re excited, your heart beats faster—can you think of a time you felt that way?"
• "Show me your happy face!"

2. Emotion Charades

Turn emotions into a fun guessing game by acting them out. Take turns making happy, sad, or surprised faces and guessing each one. This builds empathy and helps children understand non-verbal cues.

3. Create a Calm-Down Corner

Create a cozy space where your child can go to relax when they feel overwhelmed. Fill it with soft toys, books, and sensory tools like squishy balls. Teach them that it’s okay to take breaks and use calming strategies like deep breathing.

 

Teaching emotions through play helps children understand that their feelings are normal and manageable. When children learn emotional regulation, they feel more secure and confident, ready to handle life’s ups and downs.