Let them express themselves!

• April 27, 2024

How to understand emotions in children? Talking openly about feelings with our children is the best way to teach them to understand and communicate their emotions and those of others.

The specialists say that the fact that children can express in words if they feel happy or sad, anxious or worried, excited or angry, makes them learn to realize what is happening to them, control their emotions and listen and understand the the rest. All this facilitates their social interaction.

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The first years of life are fundamental in the formation of a person's emotional intelligence. According to the Mexican psychologist Claudia Santamaría, professor at the Universidad Latinoamericana and specialist in children and emotions, it is very important to know the stages of emotional development in children, especially from zero to five years.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) believes that the emotions of boys and girls are real and very powerful. For example, children may experience a feeling of frustration when they are not able to do something or are denied something they want.

The international organization points out that corporal punishment or any display of violence is detrimental to the child's development, because it favors the adoption of violent behavior.

Strategies to stimulate emotional intelligence

According to specialists like Daniel Goleman, author of the book "Emotional Intelligence", There are several strategies but they stand out:

1. Give name to feelings and emotions , like anger or sadness, helps children recognize them when they feel them. Knowing what they feel can help them cope with that emotion.
2. Orient them. Once they know how to recognize their emotions, it is important to give them basic rules to deal with them. An example: in case of anger, they should learn not to hurt themselves, or others and explain what they can do, such as drawing angry figures or learning to relax when they are nervous or upset.
3. Praise the positive. When you face your emotions well or show concern for others, you have to congratulate them and make them feel that you realize it.
4. Teach them by example. This is the best way for your children to understand how to adequately express emotions, without causing harm. For example, if you have had a bad day at the office, go for a walk instead of shouting and getting even with others.

If you have a bad temper explosion in front of your children, talk to them later and tell them why you were angry; point out that you faced your feelings in the wrong way and that you will try to do better next time. Remember that a loved child will be a self-confident adult.
 

Video Medicine: Let Them Express Themselves.mp4 (April 2024).