Understanding and expressing emotions
Naming and Understanding Feelings
Children begin to understand emotions when they are supported to recognise, name and make sense of what they are feeling.
- Learning the language of emotions helps children communicate their needs
- Naming feelings supports emotional awareness and understanding
- Children develop emotional understanding through everyday experiences and relationships
- Feeling understood helps children build confidence and emotional safety
Through a child's eyes...
“I feel more understood when the people around me help me make sense of my feelings.”
In everyday moments...
Children learn about emotions through everyday interactions, experiences and conversations. Simple moments of noticing, naming and talking about feelings help children begin to understand what is happening inside them.
Simple ideas to try
- Name emotions during everyday experiences
- Talk about feelings as they happen naturally
- Help children connect feelings with experiences
- Use calm and simple emotional language
Building through relationships...
Children develop emotional understanding through relationships where feelings are acknowledged, supported and talked about openly. Warm and responsive interactions help children feel safe to express and explore emotions.
Simple ideas to try
- Acknowledge feelings without judgement
- Use language that helps children identify emotions
- Stay calm and supportive during emotional moments
- Let children know all feelings are okay to talk about
Learning through play...
Play provides opportunities for children to express emotions, explore experiences and build emotional understanding. Storytelling, role play and imaginative play help children practise recognising and communicating feelings.
Simple ideas to try
- Use dolls or role play to explore emotions
- Read stories that include different feelings and experiences
- Talk about emotions during imaginative play
- Explore facial expressions & body language through play
Creating supportive spaces...
Children are more likely to express and explore emotions in environments that feel calm, safe and emotionally supportive. Spaces that encourage connection and communication help children feel comfortable sharing their feelings.
Simple ideas to try
- Create calm spaces for conversation and connection
- Include books and visuals about emotions
- Display emotion cards or feeling prompts
- Create environments where children feel safe expressing emotions
Supporting children across contexts...
At home ...
Children build emotional understanding when families create opportunities to talk openly about feelings and experiences. Sharing emotional language and approaches with educators can help children experience consistency across the important places in their lives.
Simple ideas to try
- Use feeling words in everyday conversations
- Talk together about emotional experiences
- Share emotional language or strategies used at home with educators
- Encourage children to express feelings in different ways
- Ensure adults talk about their feelings
In early learning settings...
Children develop emotional awareness when educators create environments where feelings are acknowledged, explored and respected. Partnerships with families help children experience consistent emotional language and support across contexts.
Simple ideas to try
- Use emotional language throughout the day
- Create opportunities for emotional expression through play and conversation
- Learn from families about how emotions are talked about at home
- Share observations and emotional strategies with families
Try this today...
- Name one feeling your child may be experiencing today
- Talk about your own feelings using calm and simple language
- Read a story together and explore how the characters feel
- Notice and acknowledge your child's emotional expressions
- Help your child connect a feeling with an experience or situation