Empowering Children with Their Emotions

As a licensed social worker, Drew believes one of the most powerful things we can do for children is to help them feel confident expressing their emotions. Emotional empowerment begins with teaching kids what emotions are, how to recognize them, and how to use healthy tools to cope with them.

Children are always observing the adults around them, often more than we realize. They notice how we take deep breaths when overwhelmed, how we react when somebody cuts us off in traffic and even how we laugh at ourselves when we make a silly mistake. This gives us a powerful opportunity: to model emotional intelligence in real, everyday moments.

When we openly express our own feelings, whether it's happiness, frustration, sadness, or anything in between, we show children that all emotions are normal and manageable. Naming our emotions and demonstrating coping tools teaches kids that it's okay to feel, and more importantly, how to work through those feelings.

Here are a few phrases we have found helpful when working with children:

• "When you're feeling frustrated, you can..."

• "I'm going to give you some space, and when you're ready to talk, I'm here."

• "Let's go for a walk and talk."

• "What are you feeling right now?"

• "What is your body feeling?"

• "I'm feeling frustrated, what do you you think I can do?"

Emotional Toolbox Ideas:

Creating an "emotional toolbox" gives children practical, go-to strategies for different emotions. When they feel something big, they can pull out a tool to help manage it.

A great way to start is by asking:

• "Where do you feel this emotion in your body?"

• "What made you feel this way?"

• "Do you like this feeling or not?"

Helping children make these connections increases awareness and supports healthy emotional development.

Here are a few tools categorized by emotion:

Frustrated:

• Take deep breaths

• Go for a walk

• Sip some water

Sad:

• Ask for a hug

• Talk about what's causing the sadness

• Ask for some space

Happy:

• Share what's making them happy

• Notice where they feel happiness in their body

Anxious:

• Talk it out

• Write or draw

• Try a hands-on activity like building with Legos, coloring or playing with magnetic tiles

Excited:

• Create a countdown or visual schedule for what's coming

• Use age-appropriate ways to talk about anticipation

The Power of Validation

Just like adults, children feel better when their emotions are acknowledged. They might not always say it out loud, but being heard and understood helps them feel safe and supported. When we validate a child's emotions before correcting or redirecting, we meet them where they are. This not only helps regulate the moment, but also builds trust and emotional confidence for the future. Helping children identify, understand, and manage their emotions is a lifelong gift. With patience, consistency, and authentic role modeling, we can raise emotionally intelligent children who feel empowered to navigate whatever comes their way.