Children and teens
Five ways to help a child name a big feeling
Emotional literacy begins when feelings are welcomed without becoming the whole story.
19 September 2026 5 min read
A place to begin
When a feeling is too large to name, a child may show it through movement, silence, anger, tears, or withdrawal. Start with curiosity: “Something feels hard right now.” Naming is not fixing, but it gives the experience a place to land.
What support can make possible
Use simple language, body cues, drawing, stories, and predictable check-ins. Emotional resilience grows when young people learn that feelings can be noticed, expressed, and carried with support.