Emotion Coaching
Emotion Coaching involves listening to your child and talking with them about the emotions they are feeling rather than simply trying to distract or dismiss them. Children are still learning how to label and manage the big emotions they are experiencing, and it is often confusing and scary. Emotion Coaching conversations help children learn how emotions work and how to react to feelings in healthy ways. Having helpful chats with your child will strengthen your relationship and prepare them for coping with everyday situations as they grow and develop.
Emotion Coaching Overview
Four Steps of Emotion Coaching
Pixar's Inside Out
Pixar’s Inside Out is a great film to watch with children to help teach them about the world of emotions. Here is a video clip from the film showing Joy dismissing Bing Bong’s emotions and Sadness successfully ‘Emotion Coaching’ him!
Blob Tree
Some children find it tricky to talk about emotions. Here is an example of an emotional check-in activity where the child can simply colour in the blob that best represents how they are feeling if they are not yet ready or able to use their words.
Alternative Phrases
If we tell a child to stop crying or calm down, we are not teaching them that emotions are a normal part of life and we are not helping them to manage their emotions. Here are some suggestions for what to say instead.
Talking to children about their emotions :
Talking to children about their emotions is key to Emotion Coaching. Here are some guides to talking with children about different emotions:
Dr Dan Siegel is an American Child Psychiatrist and author with expertise in brain development and supporting children’s emotional literacy development. Here are some videos outlining how to talk to children about their brains and their emotions:
Dan Seigel – A Handy Model of the Brain
Dan Seigel – Name it to Tame it
Click here to visit Aberdeen Educational Psychology Service