HEPS Wellbeing Window

Free Parent Seminar

Ask A Psychologist – mental health in gifted children

Funded by the Department of Education

August 12, 2025   19:30 - 21:00

Parenting a gifted child comes with unique joys and challenges, particularly when it comes to their mental health and overall well-being. In this session, along with Dr Alison Brown, a psychologist who specialises in gifted education, we will explore key issues that affect a student’s mental health.

Gifted children display thought processes, social interactions and emotional responses well beyond their years, and often in far greater proportion than would be expected. Regular social situations and interactions with other children often result in misunderstandings, frustrations or angry outbursts. Managing daily routines and workload often results in extreme feelings of frustration and exhaustion due to perfectionism and unrealistic expectations.

Learn practical strategies to support your child’s emotional resilience, encourage healthy routines, and navigate challenges that may arise. This session is designed to equip parents with tools and insights to help their gifted child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Zoom link will be sent on booking confirmation

Online

View Seminar Information

https://vagtc.org.au/single-seminar/ask-a-psychologist-mental-health-in-gifted-children/

Be You Mental Health supports 

The Importance of Emotional Talk with Our Children

Emotions are not just background noise—they matter as they teach us about children’s inner world experience and needs. In addition, being tuned to children’s emotion shape how children develop their self-esteem, learn, think, and relate. It is essential to remember that expressing emotions is not a sign of weakness but a pathway to resilience and connection.

Here’s why talking about emotions matters:

1. Emotional Development

When we label and explore feelings, children build self-awareness and develop a robust emotional identity. This awareness—known in psychology as “emotion understanding”—is a key part of emotional competence, leading to stronger social and self-regulation skills 

2. Emotional Regulation

Talking about emotions helps children learn to manage difficult feelings. By discussing how we feel and what to do with those feelings, children begin to regulate their reactions. They learn tools like taking breaths, naming their emotions, and seeking support which are essential skills for managing distress and avoiding extreme behaviours.

3. Social Communication

Emotional talk encourages open, authentic communication. When children talk about their emotions, they also learn to listen and empathise with others. This fosters genuine connection, helps them resolve conflicts, and builds healthy relationships—core outcomes of social-emotional learning programs.

4. Coping with Challenges

Talking about emotions prepares children to face life’s difficulties. Understanding and naming their emotions equips children with coping tools and the confidence to seek help when needed. They learn that emotions are signals to be noticed—not problems to be ignored—and develop resilience to handle setbacks effectively.

5. Boosting Self-Esteem

Children who feel truly heard and validated grow up believing they matter. Empathy and acceptance reinforce their sense of worth and help them view themselves positively—an essential ingredient for a healthy self-concept.

6. Preventing Risk Behaviour

When children can express feelings verbally, they’re less likely to act out. This verbal expression reduces emotional bottling, which can otherwise lead to tantrums, aggression, or withdrawal. Suppressing emotions doesn't eliminate them; instead, it often leads to internal tension and unresolved issues. Over time, this can manifest as anxiety, irritability, or a sense of disconnection from oneself.

So, how do we develop emotional talk culture and make it part of our everyday family life:

Here are some tips: 

Modelling

Children often learn by observing their parents. By expressing your own emotions and coping strategies, you demonstrate that it's normal and healthy to talk about feelings. For example, you might say, "I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed today, so I'm going to take a short walk to clear my mind." This approach helps children understand that emotions are manageable and not something to fear.

Show interest

When children are talking, they might not share their feelings, but they will give you a clue if you show interest. It can sound like: “So when that happened, were you disappointed or may be sad?” the more we name emotions in our conversation the more they will start notice them and understanding themselves. 

Create a habit

Use regularly the emotion vocabulary in family conversations. A conversation starter cards box or weekly a family discussion, is a fantastic opportunity to add emotional vocabulary into the talk.

Emotion Jar

An ‘Emotion Jar' is a simple tool where children can write down their worries frustrations, anger etc. and place them in a jar. This practice allows them to externalize their feelings making them feel more manageable. Regularly reviewing the jar together can open up discussions about these emotions and how to address them.

Family Compliment Circle (Great for Car Rides)

During a family gathering or while on a long car ride, take turns giving each other compliments. After receiving a compliment, the person can choose a Favourite song for everyone to enjoy. Then, move on to the next family member. This activity not only fosters positive communication but also makes the journey more enjoyable.