As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your child what emotions are, that it is ok to feel all emotions and what each emotion is called. They will not learn this at school or through their peers and your relationship with your partner will be integral to your children seeing how emotions are expressed and handled. Remember they are watching, listening and absorbing everything around them.
Emotion Coaching is: Being aware of your child’s feelings and being able to empathize, soothe and guide them.
The 5 steps are:
- Be aware of your child’s emotions
- Recognize the emotion as an opportunity for connection and teaching
- Listen empathetically and validate your child’s feelings
- Help your child label the emotion
- Set limits while helping your child to problem solve
So the next time your child is upset because a favourite toy went missing or is broken, a friend didn’t invite them to a birthday party, or they didn’t receive a gift they were hoping for, please take a deep breath and listen.
Take this opportunity to connect with your child and have them know that you are there to help. Your closeness and trust will only become stronger for it.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Sam
