What is emotional wellbeing?

Emotional wellbeing is a person’s full range of emotions, behavior, ideas, and relationships. Good emotional wellbeing means being able to regulate and express emotions, feelings, and thoughts well; manage stress; have a sense of meaning and purpose in life; and maintain positive relationships. Improving emotional wellbeing can also improve mental and physical health.

Learning how to take care of themselves and developing empathy is crucial to a child’s growth and education. Teaching children to recognize, manage, and express their emotions in a healthy way can positively affect their life and improve their emotional wellbeing. 

How can I help my child manage their emotions?

Emotions are natural and it’s okay to feel them—in fact, it’s important to do so. Accepting your child’s emotions without judgment builds their capacity to work through them and learn how to regulate and manage them. It’s normal for kids to cry sometimes or to need time alone to process what they’re feeling.

However, it is important to communicate to a child that it’s not okay to act out on their emotions in an unhealthy way, such as yelling or hitting. Instead, encourage them to try relaxation tactics, like taking a few deep breaths, so they can talk calmly about how they’re feeling.

You can help your child become more resilient by developing their coping skills, such as positive self-talk, mindfulness, and creative expression. When you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, think about the example you’re setting. Talk about the steps you’re taking to calm down and process your feelings, and why you find that helpful. 

Your child’s brain is still developing [Source: American Academy of Pediatrics], and their ability to process emotions will evolve with time. The teenage brain tends to amplify emotions, and because teens feel things so intensely, they may have a harder time regulating and managing their emotions [Source: Lisa Damour, PhD]. To help your child build this skill, encourage them to slow down and take time to think, so they can recognize and communicate what they’re feeling. This can help them process their emotions, lower their stress level, and make better decisions.

If your child is willing to talk with you about their feelings, listen to them, validate their feelings and offer empathy. If your child isn’t comfortable talking, you can encourage them to channel their emotions into other activities, such as exercising, listening to music that reflects their mood, or distracting themselves by playing a video game for a while.

How can I encourage my child to talk about their emotional wellbeing?

Sometimes your child may struggle to talk about their feelings, but it doesn’t mean they don’t want to. Young people may have a hard time trusting and opening up to adults. Other times, they might feel a sense of loyalty to friends and not want to talk about a particular subject that involves them.

The best thing you can do is gently and patiently create the space for them to talk to you. Set an example by being open and vulnerable yourself. Talk about how certain situations can make you feel. Helping your child relate to you can help them trust and want to open up more. If your child shares how they are feeling, listen with curiosity and support.

How can I normalize talking about emotions?

Talking about emotional wellbeing is an important life skill, and you can instill this in your children by talking about your own emotions—even negative ones like anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety—with them in a way that feels right for their age. Showing your children that talking about feelings and emotions is a natural part of daily life will make it easier for them to come to you when they need to talk.

How can I learn more about my child’s wellbeing?

To better understand your child’s wellbeing, talk with other people in your child’s life. Check with trusted teachers, family members, and coaches about how your child is doing, and listen to their feedback. They see your child in contexts that you might not be as familiar with, so they may have a different perspective.

If you have a teenager, balance your curiosity with respect for their autonomy and privacy. Around the age of 13, children feel the need to separate from their parents and become more independent [Source: Lisa Damour, PhD]. Teens may prefer that you talk with them one-on-one about their wellbeing, rather than asking someone else how they are doing.

How can I teach my child to be empathetic towards others?

When talking with your child about emotions, emphasize that it’s important to always treat others with respect and empathy. Teach your child to be empathetic and thoughtful when they’re interacting with other people. Set a positive example by listening to others with empathy and respecting their opinions. Acknowledge that this can be challenging, and if you make a mistake, talk about it with your child and discuss how you could’ve handled the situation better.