Emotions are a natural part of life, and helping children to name and express them is essential for their well-being. 

Children experience a wide range of powerful feelings. They can  develop a strong sense of self and greater flexibility when we help them to work through difficult situations, persevere while problem solving, and learn to handle sadness and grief. This can lead to a sense of balance and well-being. 

A few ways we can support children in their exploration of their emotions include:

1. We can validate whatever feelings they might have. Feelings are not right or wrong, they just are.  

2. We can help them to name their feeling. Over time, this may change an impulse, like throwing a toy, into the ability to say, “I feel mad about this!”  

3. We can grow alongside our children. When we reflect and tune into our own emotional triggers and continue to develop our ability to manage our own feelings, we can give them tools to help them throughout their life.  

Play & Learn At Home

Here's a few ideas about how you can explore emotions with your child through play:

- Give your child opportunities for messy play, like playing with sand, mud or paints. This is a great way for children to express feelings like happiness or sadness.

- Look for imaginative and creative ways for your child to play. Your child could act out feelings with puppets or toys, or use old clothes for dress-upgames and pretend play. For example, your preschooler could pretend to be kind and concerned like a teacher or a doctor.

- Take your child outside to play in a park or open area with space for running, tumbling and rolling. This can help your child let out emotions.

-Read stories that feature characters who are experiencing similar situations and emotions to your child. This can help your child understand new emotions like grief about a pet’s death or worry about starting school.

- Make music with your baby. Musical play like singing or making sounds with toys or simple instruments can help babies let their emotions out.

- Play with soft blocks together. For example, when a tall tower of blocks falls, your baby might feel and express surprise or disappointment.

- Play peekaboo with your baby. Your baby can express their excitement when you appear and confusion when you disappear.

Looking for more inspiration at home? We love these resources:
 

First Feelings: The Foundation of Healthy Development, Starting From Birth
https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/first-feelings-the-foundation-of-healthy-development-starting-from-birth/

Emotions and Play: Babies
https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/play-learning/play-baby-development/emotions-play-babies

Emotions and Play: Preschoolers
https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/play-learning/play-preschooler-development/emotions-play-preschoolers