09/02/2026
🌱 Strategies to Empower Caregivers: Helping Children Name Their Emotions
1. Name emotions in everyday moments:
During everyday connections, naturally embed and label emotions-not only during challenging behaviours.
2. Validate before trying to fix:
Acknowledge the feeling without needing to immediately make it go away.
3. Use simple emotion words:
Start with basic words such as:
happy • sad • mad • scared • excited • frustrated • worried • tired
4. Use books, toys, and everyday experiences:
Ask questions during these moments such as,
“How do you think they feel?” "What happened that made them feel that way?”
“Have you ever felt like that?”
5. Model emotional language:
Children learn by watching adults. Appropriately narrate your own emotions.
6. Connect feelings to body cues:
Help children notice how emotions feel physically.
7. Offer choices when children can't find the words:
Instead of asking an open-ended question, try:
“Are you feeling sad, mad, or worried?”
8. Avoid minimizing emotions:
Try replacing:
“Don't cry.”
“You're fine.”
With:
“I can see that you're upset.”
“That felt really hard.”
“I'm here to help you.”
9. Celebrate emotional communication:
When a child names a feeling, reinforce the skill.
