Emotional Awareness in Toddlers

As a fourth grade teacher for 7 years, I had a lot of experience helping nine and ten year olds identify and manage their emotions. Teaching mindfulness to them was my top priority. Now that I am out of the classroom and taking on a new mindfulness journey with my own children, I'm exploring mindfulness with children through a whole new lens - a toddler lens. This age is known for tantrums and simply put, a complete lack of their ability to regulate their emotions. This is the science of the brain. Toddlers have some huge emotions and are not yet capable of regulating them themselves.

How soon is too soon to practice mindfulness? I'd argue that it never is. The simplest way to teach mindfulness with a toddler is by breathing with them and modeling deep breaths - both when they're content and experiencing an unpleasant emotion.

But another way that I am preparing my 15 month old to manage her emotions in the next few years is by first and foremost teaching her what emotions are. Guiding her through her emotional development is top priority to me right now. By helping her understand and identify emotions, I can help her build emotional intelligence which is a skill that lays the foundation for healthy relationships, empathy, and effective communication in the years to come.

Learning how to nurture emotional intelligence in my toddler is new for me since she is my first-born. But these are strategies I have used for years with my students and I know they have profound effects. By teaching our children to identify, understand, and manage their emotions, we're helping them develop essential life skills that contribute to their overall well-being and success in forming positive relationships down the road.

Here are 10 practical ways to help nurture emotional intelligence in your little one.

1. 1. Emotion Identification:

Start by introducing your toddler to different emotions through simple words and facial expressions. Show them pictures of happy, sad, angry, and surprised faces, and encourage them to mimic those expressions. Ask questions like "How do you think this person feels?" during storytime. In my toddler's calm corner I have this emotions (love and fear) poster hanging. I always teach that emotions fall under two categories - love and fear. Watch my reel where I explain this concept and how I teach it.

2. Labeling Emotions:

As your toddler begins to recognize emotions, help them put names to what they're feeling. When they're excited, say, "You look really happy!" or if they seem upset, acknowledge, "It seems like you're feeling sad." This helps them associate words with their feelings. My favorite way to do this is by sitting down with my daughter in front of the mirror and modeling various facial expressions and naming the emotion.

3. Modeling Emotions:

Children learn by observing their parents, peers, and teachers. Express your own emotions openly and constructively. Say things like, "I'm feeling frustrated because the weather hasn't allowed us to go for a walk in a few days," and explain how you're managing your emotions. This sets a positive example and shows them that it's okay to feel and express emotions.

1. 4. Emotion-Focused Play:

Engage in activities that allow your toddler to explore emotions through play. Use dolls, stuffed animals, or action figures to act out different emotional scenarios. This helps them understand how emotions affect actions and interactions.

5. Reading Books About Emotions:

Choose age-appropriate books that highlight emotional themes. These stories can serve as conversation starters about different feelings and situations. Discuss the characters' emotions and ask your toddler how they think the characters feel. You can also read books that teach emotions such as The Color Monster or In My Heart: A Book of Feelings.

6. Teaching Empathy:

Encourage your toddler to think about others' feelings by asking questions like, "How do you think your friend felt when you shared your toy?" Encourage kind gestures and praise them when they show concern for others' emotions.

7. Managing Emotions:

Toddlers are still learning how to cope with big emotions. Teach them simple calming techniques like star breath or counting or five finger breath. Create a calm corner in your home where they can retreat when they're overwhelmed.

8. Validating Feelings:

Let your toddler know that all emotions are valid. Avoid dismissing their feelings, even if you don't fully understand why they're upset. Say, "I see that you're feeling angry. Can you tell me what happened?"

9. Problem Solving:

Guide your toddler in finding appropriate ways to manage challenging emotions. If they're angry because they can't find their favorite toy, suggest looking for it together or finding another fun activity.

10. Consistency and Patience:

Developing emotional intelligence takes time. Be patient and consistent as you teach and reinforce these skills. Celebrate their progress and above all, give yourself grace. You're doing amazing!

Follow along on instagram as I continue to navigate mindfulness in motherhood @withlaurensullivan.