My Walks of Life

• For starters with young children, as parents we can demonstrate healthy ways of expressing our own emotions.
• Use the word "I" to own the feeling. Start with I feel upset when I am not heard.
• Give the feeling a label for your child: "It looks like you're sad because your friend could not come over and play."
• Validate your child's feelings. Listen, nod your head, use short comments to get them to continue talking. Do not criticize or yell or your child will shut down.
• Make eye contact and pay attention.
As your child grows, help them to understand different emotions and why people react to certain circumstances.
Help your child to identify the following:
- How am I feeling right now?
- Why am I feeling this way?
- How would I like to feel?
The more you help your child understand his/her emotions, the more your child will be able to control impulsive behavior and cooperate with others.