Скачать или смотреть Normalize And Help Kids Verbalize Emotions

Have you ever had someone look at you and say, “Don’t be so emotional?” Have you ever said that to someone else? We all have emotions and being emotional is as natural as anything else we typically encounter – so what do we really mean when we say this? For most, this phrase is less about what we feel and much more about how we are expressing our feelings. We want people to understand what they are feeling and share that emotion in a calm, reasoned, and thoughtful way – but the vast majority of us were never taught any strategies to help verbalize emotions like this. So instead of being upset by the emotions our kids and teenagers express, how can we help them to verbalize how they’re feeling more effectively?
1. Stay calm and keep a connection. When a kid or teenager is expressing anger, frustration, fear, or disgust– we can do more good by seeking to understand them rather than correct them. Be present with them, acknowledge their feelings, and give them a safe space to be expressive and not filtered.
2. Offer visual help. You may have seen an image of the “emotions wheel” before (if not, you can look one up online) or a similar tool to help us identify and name our emotions. By providing a simple, visual tool like this to a kid or teenager, we can help them find their bearings when it comes to what they are feeling and where those emotions might stem from. Instead of asking them to fully understand what they are feeling, help them discover the path to understanding their own feelings.
3. Invite their stories and questions. A kid or teenager may not be able to tell you exactly how they feel and why, but they can tell you the story of their day. Be a little bit of an investigator and help them process their own journey, and what led to emotions that come up.
4. Partner with them in problem-solving. (At the right time, of course.) If an outburst happens, you could say, “Next time, don’t yell.” Or you could help them identify what really caused their emotional response, what result they wanted to see, and how they could be more effective in the future. When they solve their own problems, they’re not just improving behavior, but growing as a person!
At the end of the day, we don’t want less emotional people – emotions make relationships beautiful, engaging, and real. So let’s not be afraid of what we feel, let’s learn to normalize emotions and help those we love to do the same.