Helping Children Manage Their Emotions Parents naturally want their children to lead happy, successful lives. When parents observe frequent temper outbursts and notice their child’s inability to play well with others, they worry that those behaviors will interfere with their child’s present or future success. Certainly we know that an individual’s abilities to manage emotions and get along with others are important factors in success at school and work. But what exactly does “managing emotions” and “getting along with others” mean? How can parents help their children handle those emotions and act accordingly? The first step is helping children recognize and name their feelings. Young children typically “act out” their feelings. Stomping their feet, slamming the door, yelling, crying, pouting and withdrawing are typical ways children act out feelings and communicate different degrees of different emotions. Parents can help their children by interpreting these behaviors using an emotional vocabulary: “It sounds like you’re angry with Justin for not sharing his toy.” “Did it hurt your feelings when Mary wanted to play with Karen instead of coming home with you?” “It makes you angry when you can’t go outside.” Parents can also model emotional literacy by labeling their own feelings: “I’m worried right now because I can’t find my wallet.” Helping children distinguish between feelings and actions is another important step in emotional development. In Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman states, “All emotions are, in essence, impulses to act.” It is important to teach children that all of their feelings (impulses) are okay. Let them know that even parents, teachers, and counselors sometimes feel sad, angry, worried, frustrated, scared, annoyed, or nervous. So what can you do when you’re sad, angry, or worried? Learning how to manage emotions is an important aspect of emotional development, and children learn to manage their emotions by watching significant adults...