Kids experience complex feelings just like adults. They get frustrated, excited, nervous, sad, jealous, frightened, worried, angry and embarrassed.
However young kids usually don’t have the vocabulary to talk about how they are feeling. Instead they communicate their feelings in other ways.
Kids can express their feelings through facial expressions, through their body, and their behavior and play. Sometimes they may act out their feelings in physical, inappropriate or problematic ways.
From the moment kids are born, they start learning the emotional skills they need to identify, express and manage their feelings. They learn how to do this through their social interactions and relationships with important people in their lives such as parents, grandparents and care givers. Kids need to be shown how to manage their feelings in positive and constructive ways.
Kids who learn healthy ways to express and cope with their feelings are more likely to:
* Be empathic and supportive of others
* Perform better in school and their career
* Have more positive and stable relationships
* Have good mental health and wellbeing
* Display less behavioral problems
* Develop resilience and coping skills
* Feel more competent, capable and confident
* Have a positive sense of self
