I Can Handle It

01Understanding and Expressing Emotions for Kids

Picture a young child, let's call her Lily, who's just had her favorite toy taken away by her older brother. She's feeling a whirlwind of emotions - anger, sadness, frustration. Now, imagine if Lily had the tools to understand and express these emotions in a healthy way. That's the power of emotional literacy, a key theme in the book "I Can Handle It (Mindful Mantras)" by Ms Laurie Wright and Ms Ana Santos. Emotions are like the different colors on an artist's palette. Just as an artist uses different colors to create a beautiful painting, our emotions combine to create our unique human experience. They're universal - everyone, from a toddler in Toronto to a grandmother in Ghana, experiences them. They're also varied - sometimes we feel happy, other times we're sad, angry, or scared. And that's perfectly normal. In fact, it's not just normal, it's important. All emotions, even the ones we might label as 'negative', are valid. They're a part of who we are. When Lily feels angry because her toy was taken away, that's a valid emotion. It's a signal that something important to her was violated. By accepting this emotion, Lily can start to understand why she's feeling this way and what she can do about it. Acknowledging emotions is the next step in this process. It's like saying, "Hello, Anger. I see you. I know why you're here." This isn't about encouraging children to dwell on their negative emotions. Rather, it's about helping them recognize their feelings, understand their source, and manage them effectively. For instance, once Lily acknowledges her anger, she can start to think about how to express it in a healthy way. Expressing emotions is where the rubber meets the road. It's about giving children the tools to communicate their feelings effectively. This could be through talking about their feelings, writing them down, or expressing them through art. For example, Lily could tell her brother that she's angry because he took her toy without asking. Or she could draw a picture of how she's feeling. By expressing her emotions, Lily can start to process them and prevent them from escalating into emotional distress. In conclusion, understanding, accepting, acknowledging, and expressing emotions are crucial skills for children to develop. They're the building blocks of emotional literacy, helping children navigate their emotional world effectively. And the benefits are immense - from improved mental health to better relationships and overall well-being. So, let's help our children, like Lily, to understand and express their emotions in a healthy way. After all, they can handle it.