From ages 0-5, children experience rapid growth and development. As key areas of the brain develop children are also learning how they fit into the world around them because everything is new. During this time, they’re like little explorers delving into all of it headfirst. All of this newness also brings different emotions that little ones aren’t used to. Some of them like happiness, curiosity and surprise are fun emotions that require less processing while others like fear, sadness and anger are big emotions for little kids. Connecting their feelings with the physiological effects of their body takes a long time to figure out. But there are some simple ways you can help your child begin to understand their feelings, starting in infancy!
How to Use Emotional Vocabulary
One of the best ways to help young children learn to navigate their emotions and eventually self-regulate their response to them is to make a purposeful effort to teach them emotional vocabulary.
Infants
Parents and caregivers should use emotions when speaking with babies. Yes, you read that right! Even though they may not understand everything you say, labeling emotions from a young age boosts emotional intelligence. Plus, they can begin putting two and two together. If they see a positive reaction, like a smile or laugh, and hear the word happy, they begin to make connections between feelings and physiological responses. You can also try to include other words that match the emotion to help strengthen the word association. Words that evoke positivity include wonderful, beautiful, birthday, love, etc.
As you go about your day, inject emotional vocabulary along the way. For example:
- “I hear you crying and I know that you’re angry that your bottle isn’t warm yet. I’m warming up your bottle right now and that will make you feel so happy.”
Toddlers
As children begin to learn how to speak, labeling emotions should continue even more pointedly. As you read books with your toddler and expose them to new experiences, narrate what’s happening and include emotional vocabulary. For example: “Today we’re going to the zoo for the first time! I think you’ll feel so excited when you see all of the animals. You may feel a little scared of the big ones, but they won’t hurt you.”
Preschool Plus
As your toddler and young preschooler starts making friends, point out emotions and emotional responses when you see them. For example: “I saw you playing with your friend Andrew. Andrew had to go home, which made you feel sad. I could tell you were sad because I saw your frowny face and tears. What can we do that will make you feel happier?”
Everyday Emotions
Use emotional vocabulary in your everyday life. Talk to your children in simple terms about things you experience and how they make you feel. Emotions that young children can easily understand include:
- Happy
- Excited
- Surprised
- Frustrated
- Angry
- Confused
- Silly
The more emotional vocabulary becomes part of your everyday conversations, the stronger the foundation you’re building for your child’s social and emotional development. Research shows that children who can label their emotions are better at self-regulation, interact more with their peers in kindergarten and are more socially and emotionally prepared for school.
