Social and emotional development helps children to understand their own feelings and behaviors as well as the feelings of others. It also helps children learn how to build relationships with peers and adults. For this reason, children need to learn how to express their feelings in order for them to understand the feelings of others.

We can help children learn how to verbalize their feelings. First by recognizing that the child is feeling sad or upset. Ask them how they feel and label the emotion for them. Then, continue the conversation to find out what happened to make them feel that way and what can be done to help them feel better.  Sometimes just recognizing and talking about the emotion helps them validate their feelings and they feel better.

Children can play games to help them understand emotion.  Look in the mirror with your child and make happy faces, sad faces, excited faces and angry faces. Another game is to pretend to be angry monsters or giggle tickle monsters.  Pretend to be excited about going to the show or playground. This play increases the understanding of emotions.

Posting a chart with pictures of children looking happy, sad, angry or excited is helpful in teaching your child how to identify feelings.  I have a chart similar to the one in this blog in my classroom. I ask the children to point to the picture that best looks like how they feel.  To make them feel better, we then talk about their feeling and what can be done to correct it.

Healthy social and emotional development will help children feel more confident. They will be able to express their feelings and moods more easily. The children will become more independent, develop friendships and respect others.