Helping children recognise and express their feelings
Recognising and expressing feelings is an important skill for every child. When children can name and understand their emotions, they begin to build confidence, empathy and self-awareness. At Scotts Road Child Care Centre in Darra, our educators support children to talk about their feelings in calm and meaningful ways through play, stories and daily interactions.
Why naming feelings matters
Learning to identify emotions is one of the first steps in developing emotional intelligence. When children can say how they feel, they can start to understand what causes those emotions and how to manage them.
Simple activities at home or at childcare can make a big difference. Try labelling your own emotions out loud so your child can see how feelings connect to experiences. For example:
“I’m excited to go to the park.”
“I feel frustrated that I can’t find my keys.”
By hearing these examples, children begin to learn the language of emotions and how to describe their own feelings.
Supporting children to name their emotions
You can help your child recognise what they’re feeling by gently describing what you notice. For example:
“I can see you’re worried about meeting new friends.”
“You look proud of the tower you built.”
These moments help children match the words to what’s happening inside their bodies and minds. They also show that their feelings are understood and accepted.
Inviting your child to share how they feel can also encourage open conversation. Simple questions like “How did you feel when you went to your friend’s house?” or “What made you happy today?” build trust and communication.
Using stories to explore emotions
Books are a wonderful way to talk about feelings in a safe and familiar way. As you read together, pause to ask how a character might be feeling or what might happen next. For example, “Aisha looks a little sad about starting school. How do you think she feels?”
Linking a character’s experience to your child’s own life helps them make sense of their emotions. It shows that everyone feels a wide range of emotions and that it’s okay to talk about them.
Play as a window into feelings
Play is one of the most natural ways children express their thoughts and emotions. Through drawing, painting, storytelling or imaginative play, children explore ideas and work through experiences.
At Scotts Road, our educators use play to help children act out situations, share their ideas and build social understanding. Using toys, puppets or dress-ups, children can express what they might find difficult to put into words.
A drawing of their family, a painting of their classroom or a story about a favourite game can all give insight into what they are feeling. Educators then use these moments to start gentle conversations, helping children recognise emotions and find healthy ways to express them.
Emotional learning at Scotts Road Child Care Centre
At Scotts Road Child Care, we know that emotional learning is just as important as academic development. Our programs focus on helping children build confidence, resilience and empathy through play, connection and meaningful relationships.
By creating a caring and predictable environment, children feel safe to express themselves, share ideas and grow in understanding of others.
Visit us and see learning in action
When children learn to recognise and express their feelings, they develop the foundation for lifelong wellbeing and communication.
Book a tour or enrol now at Scotts Road Child Care Centre to see how our early learning programs support emotional growth, creativity and connection for children across Darra and Brisbane’s western suburbs.