Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

How to talk to children about emotions

Helping your child feel heard and understood

Discussing emotions can be challenging, even for adults. However, helping children understand and express their feelings is one of the most crucial steps in supporting their mental health and fostering strong relationships.

Here are 3 simple tips to help you talk with your child about emotions:

1. Name the feeling

Young children may not have the words to describe what they’re going through. Help by naming emotions for them:

“It looks like you’re feeling sad because your friend didn’t play with you today.”

This helps children learn to identify and express their feelings.

2. Listen without jumping in

When your child opens up, give them space to share before offering advice. Show you're listening by saying:

“That sounds really hard. I’m glad you told me.”

Sometimes, they just need to feel heard, not “fixed.”

3. Let them know all feelings are okay

Reassure your child that emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness are normal:

“It’s okay to feel upset. Everyone has tough days.”

Validating their feelings helps them feel safe to open up in the future.

Quick Tip: 

Try using books or story time to talk about how characters feel. This is a great way to explore emotions together. 

In the coming weeks, I will be spotlighting some wonderful emotion-filled books that you can enjoy with your children at home. 

Take care and have a wonderful weekend.