Helping Kids Understand and Express Big Feelings

All children have big emotions, whether happy and excited, angry, sad, or fearful. But children don’t always know what those feelings are, or how to talk about them. This is where we help as parents, educators, or caregivers. Supporting children to understand and express emotions is one of the most important life skills to provide them.
At The Manthan School, we help children grow not just in academics but also in emotional strength and confidence.
In fact, studies show that children who learn how to manage their emotions do better in school, have healthier relationships, and feel more confident overall.
Let’s look at some simple ways to help young children name, understand, and express their big feelings.

1. Teach Emotion Words

The first step is to teach children the names of feelings. Just like they learn colors or animals, they can also learn words like:

• Happy

• Sad

• Angry

• Scared

• Excited

• Nervous

Start by talking about emotions during everyday moments. For example:

• “You’re smiling—you look happy!”

• “You’re crying—are you feeling sad?”

The more often we name emotions out loud, the easier it becomes for children to do the same.

2. Help Them Notice How Emotions Feel in the Body

Feelings show up in our bodies, too. A child might say their tummy hurts before school because they’re feeling nervous. Or they might clench their fists when they’re angry.
You can help by saying things like:

• “Is your heart beating fast? That might mean you’re excited or scared.”

• “Do your hands feel tight? Maybe you’re feeling upset.”

Teaching children to notice these body clues helps them understand emotions better and react in a healthy way.

3. Let All Emotions Be OK

Sometimes adults say things like “Don’t cry,” or “Calm down.” This might teach kids that certain emotions are bad.
Instead, tell children that it’s normal to feel all kinds of emotions, whether happy, sad, angry, or scared. Try saying:

• “It’s okay to feel mad. Let’s find a way to talk about it.”

• “Everyone feels nervous sometimes. I feel that way too!”

When we accept their emotions, children feel safe and supported.

4. Praise Them for Expressing Feelings

When your child tells you how they feel, that’s a big win! Let them know you’re proud of them for using words instead of yelling or misbehaving.

You can say:

• “Thank you for telling me you were upset.”

• “I’m glad you shared your feelings instead of scolding.”

This shows your child that talking about feelings is the right thing to do.

5. Teach the “Pause” Trick

Sometimes kids go from calm to angry very quickly. That’s because they don’t yet know how to pause and check in with themselves.
Teach them to stop for a moment and ask:

• “How is my body feeling?”

• “What thoughts am I having right now?”

Taking a short pause can help children choose a better way to express their emotions before acting out.

6. Use Books, Music, and Play to Talk About Feelings

Talking about emotions doesn’t always have to be serious. You can use books, stories, music, or pretend play to help your child understand feelings in a fun way.
Try these ideas:

• Pause while reading a story and ask, “How do you think this character feels?”

• Use dolls or puppets to act out feelings like being scared or excited.

• Listen to songs about feelings and talk about the words.

These activities help build your child’s emotional vocabulary and teach them to care about how others feel too.

7. Be a Role Model

Children learn a lot by watching adults. When you talk about your own emotions, they learn it’s okay to do the same.
You could say:

• “I’m feeling tired today, so I need to rest a bit.”

• “I was frustrated earlier, but I took a deep breath to calm down.”

When children see you handling emotions in a healthy way, they’ll try to do the same.

At The Manthan School, We Support Every Part of a Child’s Growth

At The Manthan School, cbse school in sector 78 noida we know that learning goes beyond books. We help children build strong emotional skills through stories, conversations, music, and play. Our teachers create a safe space where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings and learning how to handle them.
Whether a child is feeling joyful, shy, upset, or excited, we’re here to guide them, every step of the way.
Visit The Manthan School and explore a learning environment where emotions are understood, supported, and celebrated.