Identifying and Understanding Feelings

Source: www.pixarpost.com

By Sam Piha

There are so many aspects to young people’s mental health. One thing we know is that kids need to be able identify their feelings. Helping kids identify their feelings is a crucial part of social and emotional development and is core to dealing with trauma and being able to self- regulate. This involves helping them recognize different emotions, understand their causes, and learn healthy ways to express them. 

“All emotions are a normal part of life and it's good to express them. Children need to learn how to communicate their emotions, even those often seen as negative, like anger or sadness. Regular conversations help kids feel supported and understood, it also will encourage them to express their feelings. Encourage children to pause and reflect on their feelings.” [i]

HERE'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

It is critical that we help young people develop a language related to feelings and use this language to help identify their own feelings and those of others. This is core to developing empathy for others. Why is this important? Google AI states:

• “Emotional Regulation: Learning to identify feelings is the first step in emotional regulation, which is the ability to manage and control one's emotions. 
• Improved Mental Health: Understanding emotions can help reduce anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges. 
• Stronger Relationships: When children can identify and understand their own emotions, they can also better understand and empathize with the emotions of others, leading to stronger relationships. 
• Enhanced Self-Esteem: Being able to understand and express feelings helps children feel more in control of their emotions and reactions, leading to increased self-esteem and confidence. 
• Increased Resilience: Children who can identify and manage their emotions are better equipped to cope with difficult situations and bounce back from setbacks. 
• Better Social Skills: Understanding emotions helps children navigate social situations more effectively, leading to improved social skills and interactions. 
• Academic Success: Emotional regulation skills are linked to school success and academic achievement.” [ii]  

TEACHING KIDS HOW TO COPE WITH THEIR EMOTIONS

Teaching kids how to cope with their emotions ids how to cope with their emotions is one of the best life skills you can give them. This is what we call emotion regulation, and you can start the moment they’re born! Our experts recommend reading in this order:

• Naming emotions

“Once children learn emotion words and start noticing as they feel them in the moment, it’s important they learn how to communicate what they are feeling. This can be hard because children sometimes mistakenly learn we should avoid certain emotions, like anger, sadness or loneliness.” [iii] 

• Noticing how the emotions feel in their body
• Expressing their emotions
• Coping with their emotions

EMOTION VOCABULARY

If we want young people to be able to identify their feelings, they need to first develop an emotion vocabulary. To do this, Google AI suggests:

• “Name the feelings: Help children learn to label their emotions using words like happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, frustrated, etc. 
• Use visual aids: Employing picture cards or charts with faces showing different emotions can be helpful.  

Source: My Pal, Luke

“A feelings chart is a visual tool that can help you identify and verbalize your feelings. Feelings charts can be helpful for both kids and adults and can take on a variety of forms. And while they’re helpful in healthcare settings, you can also use a feelings chart on your own or with your family at home.” [iv] - Ariana Hoet (To download a free Feelings Chart, click here.) 

• Talk about feelings regularly: Create a safe space for open conversations about feelings in everyday situations. 
• Use books and stories: Discuss the emotions of characters in books and how they might be feeling in different situations. 
• Model emotional expression: Parents and caregivers can model healthy ways of expressing their own emotions. 
• Use play: Role-playing, puppets, and dolls can be great tools for exploring emotions. 
• Connect feelings to events: Help children understand what might cause them to feel a certain way. For example, ‘You seem sad because you didn't get to play outside today’. 
• Notice body language: Pay attention to how emotions show up in their bodies (e.g., butterflies in the stomach for nervousness, a tight chest for anger).” [v] 

END NOTES:
[i] Ariana Hoet, Helping Kids Express Emotions Appropriately
[ii] Google AI, Why is it Important for Young People to Develop Language for Their Feelings
[iii] Ariana Hoet, Helping Kids Express Emotions Appropriately
[iv] Liz Talago MEd, How to Use an Emotions Chart to Track Your Feelings
[v] Google AI, Best Ways to Identify Feelings and Develop Emotional Vocabulary with Young People