Preschoolers need guidance to help them interpret their own feelings and emotions and interact appropriately with others. When you help children learn how to communicate their feelings and emotions effectively, you give them the social and emotional tools they need to deflate stressful situations and to better understand themselves.
By teaching preschoolers how to express their feelings and how to respond to the emotions of their peers, you help them recognize and deal with their own feelings and emotions, as well as those of others. Next we are going to give you some strategies so that you can teach preschool children to understand and understand emotions and feelings since it is quite abstract for them and they need your guidance and guidance.
Putting words to feelings and emotions
It is necessary to be able to name emotions and feelings for children to learn the names and also to identify them. You can start with simple language, such as angry, sad, happy, or scared , but you can move beyond these initial "feeling" words to more descriptive ones, such as lonely, excited, hungry, frustrated, and grateful.
Emotional literacy helps children become socially competent and enables them to recognize and respond to social cues appropriately. In this way they will begin to understand how they and others feel .
Present emotional concepts
It is important to present emotional concepts during story time or activity, using pictures and facial expressions to help children better understand the connection between feelings and self-expression.
Help preschoolers put the words of feelings in context when they are experiencing a heightened emotional moment. For example, you could say things like, "You’re really excited about that puppy" or "You’re feeling frustrated with this puzzle right now."
Give children permission to express their emotions
Preschoolers should feel that they can express their emotions and feelings without having to feel shame or guilt. Learning to understand and manage feelings and emotions is a milestone in social and emotional development.
Encourage children to express feelings appropriately rather than suppressing them or expressing them without regard for others. If a preschooler wants to hit when he is angry, for example, an appropriate way must be found for him to express his anger. It teaches that hitting others is not a good way to show anger and frustration … instead, you can give them a cushion to hit them as long as they are in this intense emotional state. In this way you will be allowing him to express his feelings without endangering himself or others .
Be a good example
Model self-control using calm, descriptive language to express their own feelings and emotions. Children learn about feelings and emotions not only through their own experiences, but also through observation. Look for teaching opportunities to show the child how to express strong feelings and emotions appropriately.
Mediating emotional conflicts
Mediating tense emotional conflicts involving preschoolers without trying to control the situation. Encourage and allow preschoolers to communicate their feelings and emotions to both their peers and adults.
Social and emotional development is a primary factor in school readiness . Children should be given opportunities to interact with their peers and work through social situations that involve sharing and taking turns. When conflict arises, ask the preschooler how he feels and why he feels that way. When they respond, ask them what they think will help the situation. Encourage her to share these thoughts with other involved children. Help in conversation until feelings have been effectively communicated, resolved, and addressed.
Give space for feelings
Young children should have a space to explore their feelings. If a preschooler needs time to calm down, give him a relaxing book or toy and help him find a quiet place to be alone. Refrain from associating quiet time with punishment or time out. A child needs to know that the need for space to experiment and work through feelings is natural and is not a consequence of wrong behavior.