Supporting children with big feelings

Just like adults, infants and children can experience big feelings. They can get nervous and sad, jealous and frustrated, and many of the feelings that bubble up for all of us in everyday life. But unlike adults, children may not have the words to clearly express how they are feeling and will communicate in different ways. As parents it can be difficult to know how to support our children when they are experiencing these big emotions.  

In this episode host Alicia Ranford talks with social worker, parent educator, author, founder of Connected Parenting and mother to four boys, Gen Muir. Gen shares ways parents can support their children when they experience big feelings, especially if they don’t yet have the words to tell us what they need. Gen also offers support for parents who may find this stage of child development difficult and ways they can look after themselves.

In this episode you will learn:

• what the term ‘big feelings’ means when it comes to children [3:30]
• what children may be trying communicate when they express these big feelings [12:00]
• about different strategies parents can use to support children at different ages and stages in their life [21:14]
• what parents can do if their child needs further support [27:14] 

Further information and resources:

Connected Parenting 

Supporting your child’s emotions 

In focus: Understanding children’s emotions and behaviour 

Emotions and behaviours: Understanding and supporting children’s feelings and responses 

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