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0919 September
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teach feeling
words
the biggest obstacle toddlers have when they are trying to express their feelings
is the simple fact that they do not have the words to explain what is going on. when your child
has worked hard to build a tower of blocks only to have it topple down over and over again, they begin to feel frustrated. simply stating, ?you are frustrated with your blocks aren?t you? can i help?? acknowledges your child?s feelings and gives words to identify their feelings in the future. by sarah lyons does your child throw temper tantrums when things don?t go his way? does he hit siblings when he is mad? does he throw toys across the room when he is frustrated? kids often don?t understand how to appropriately express strong feelings like anger, frustration, or disappointment, causing them to act out. this is totally normal, and the good news is, parents can help kids understand their emotions, express themselves in a healthy way, and even learn to cope with their feelings. if a sibling took his toy away and he begins to cry, acknowledge that he is sad and come up with a solution together to work it out. in the future, give your child the opportunity to express how he is feeling and listen. this will help him show his feelings through words rather than actions (like hitting or throwing a tantrum). for an older child, ask him what he is feeling and listen to the answer without criticism. if he is having trouble coming up with words to express himself, give raising an expressive child 5 0 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9
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