Learn How Talking to Your Kids About Their Feelings Changes Your Relationship

Learning how to talk to your kids about their feelings is one of the most important things you can ever do as a parent. When you open that door, sharing feelings can change your relationship for the better.  Parenting is a tough job and there may be times when you feel like you’re struggling to know the right things to say or do. Being there for your children and helping them learn to work through their feelings is very important.

Research shows that children who understand their feelings and learn more about their emotions will do better in all areas of life. Recognizing your child’s feelings and helping them work through it will also bring you closer together. In a previous post, I created a huge book list of great feelings books that you can read with your child.  You can find it here.

Books are a terrific way to open lines of communication between parents and children and teachers and children.  Children often relate to the book characters and when they do, they can learn life lessons from the book characters. You can also work through different scenarios that they may face at home or school.  Discuss how it makes them feel and how they can respond.  Prep them for things they may face with their peers so they will know how to handle it.  Help your child put a name to their feelings so they can adequately express their needs when they are frustrated or upset.

Here are some ways that you help your children when you talk to them about their feelings:

• You help them learn to calm themselves more quickly when they get upset.
• You help them form stronger relationships with other children.
• They can perform better in school.
• They will have fewer negative emotions.
• They learn to handle their moods better.
• They get sick less often.
• You will grow closer to one another.

We hope that you find this list helpful.  Taking time to help your children understand their emotions is an important part of parenting and one that is often overlooked by parenting books and classes. The important thing to remember is that children learn what is told to them and modeled for them.  If we want them to respond peacefully, then we need to respond peacefully to stressors.  If we want them to work well with others, then we need to model that.  If children see their parents being kind, they will often replicate that modeled behavior.  Everything we say and do is important when teaching our children how to handle their feelings.  It’s also important that children feel that they can discuss their feelings with their parents and that we will love them regardless.