How to Get Kids to Express Their Feelings
One of the primary tasks that parents face is helping their children express their emotions. Throughout their development, children experience a variety of different emotions. Difficulty can arise when a child is unable to express his feelings of sadness, anger, frustration and fear. As children grow older, they must learn to interpret, manage and direct their emotions so that these feelings are not expressed in destructive ways. Parents can help their children express and understand their emotions in many ways.
Instructions
Help your child identify her feelings. Whether she feels angry, sad or frustrated, it's important for her to recognize her emotions. If your child is sad, say, "I notice you're sad. You're frowning and looking down at the floor." Encourage your child to act out her feelings with puppets and action figures. Sometimes children are more comfortable using imaginary figures to act out the big, scary emotions they feel. For example, ask your child to act out a certain situation, such a child shoving another child on the playground. Set a good example. Because children often mimic their parents, it is important to express your own emotions in positive ways. Discuss with him how you express negative feelings, such as anger or frustration, through exercise, writing, listening to music or meditation. Praise your child when she first expresses her feelings through words. For example, say, "I am so proud of you for sharing your feelings with me. I am glad you understand that talking about your anger is better than throwing a tantrum." If your child notices how proud you are of her, she will be more likely to express her feelings in the future. Read books to your child that focus on feelings and expressing them appropriately. When you come across a page where a character is showing an emotion, ask your child, "Do you think the boy on this page is feeling happy or sad? Why do you think he feels this way?"