Naming emotions is one of the most important skills a child can learn. When a child can say "I feel frustrated" or "I'm nervous", the feeling becomes something they can deal with, and it becomes easier for an adult to help.
1. Name your own feelings out loud
Children learn by example. Talk about your own feelings in everyday situations: "I felt frustrated when the bus was late, so I took a few deep breaths."
2. The feelings weather report
At the end of the day, ask: "What was the weather like inside you today: sunny, cloudy or stormy?" Pictures help young children find the words.
3. Accept all feelings
All feelings are allowed, even if not all actions are. "It's okay to be angry, but hitting is not okay. What could you do instead?"
4. Read books and pause
While reading, ask: "How do you think the character feels now? How can you tell?" This builds empathy at the same time.
5. Practise ways to calm down
Practise together when everyone is calm: deep breathing, a hug, a cosy calm-down corner or movement. Once a strategy is familiar, it's much easier to use in the middle of a storm.
Small, repeated moments in everyday life build strong emotional skills.