Tough Topics for Kids: Emotions

Tips for talking to kids about emotions (from the Child Mind Institute):

Ask your child to describe how he or she feels. Using words to describe overwhelming emotions can help them feel more manageable.

Be careful not to dismiss the feeling. Saying "it's okay" to an emotional kid can make them feel like their emotions are wrong and discourage them from sharing how they feel. 

Model good emotional behaviors in real time. If something frustrates or upsets you, try to walk through the healthy steps for dealing with the emotion. Acknowledge your feeling. Take a deep breath. Try to solve the problem once you've calmed your emotions.

Check out these titles to help you start a healthy conversation.