16/11/2025
We all want our children to feel safe sharing their emotions with us.
We want them to know what’s happening inside their little bodies, to be able to say, “I’m sad,” or “I’m worried,” and to ask for help when they need it.
Why?
Because research shows that children who can name and communicate how they feel are:
✅ Less likely to develop depression
✅ More resilient when things go wrong
✅ Better able to regulate their behaviour and feel balanced day-to-day
And we know this as adults too, when we name our feelings, we process them better, change unhelpful patterns, have healthier relationships, and ride life’s ups and downs with more ease.
The best thing we can do for our kids is help them build this skill from birth. Kids don’t automatically know what sadness, anger, or anxiety is; they feel it in their bodies first. We are their first teachers of feelings.
💛 Here’s a personal example:
The other morning, my daughter started crying right before I had to leave for work. Her little face was crumpled, eyes full of tears.
Instead of rushing her or distracting her, I got down on her level and said:
“Mummy has to go to work. How does this make you feel? I can see you look sad because you have a frown and your eyes are teary. It’s so hard to say goodbye. It’s ok to feel sad. I feel sad too when I leave.”
In that moment, she softened. She leaned in for a hug. By giving her sadness a name and space, she began learning that feelings can be felt, talked about, and moved through.
Save this post to remind yourself on the hard days. 💛
