Why Emotional Literacy is the Key to a Child's Success and Well-being

Emotional literacy—the ability to recognise, understand, and express emotions—is a fundamental skill that shapes children’s social, academic, and personal success. When children develop emotional literacy, they’re better equipped to navigate relationships, handle challenges, and build a strong sense of self. Teaching emotional literacy is a powerful way to support children’s overall well-being and future resilience.

What is Emotional Literacy?

Emotional literacy involves understanding one’s own emotions and empathising with others. This skill enables children to identify and label their feelings, understand the reasons behind them, and express them constructively. Research shows that children with strong emotional literacy are more resilient, perform better academically, and are less likely to experience behavioural issues.

Signs of Strong vs. Developing Emotional Literacy in Children

Parents and educators can look for these signs to understand where a child is in their emotional literacy development:

• Signs of Strong Emotional Literacy
  Children with developed emotional literacy can easily express their feelings, show empathy towards others, and understand the impact of their actions on others.

• Signs of Developing Emotional Literacy
  Children who are still building emotional literacy may struggle to name their feelings, react strongly to frustrations, or find it challenging to empathise with others.

How to Encourage Emotional Literacy at Home

Here are practical ways to build emotional literacy in children:

1. Use Emotion Charts
   Emotion charts are great visual aids for young children to identify and label their feelings. Using one at home or in the classroom gives children a visual language for expressing their emotions.

2. Talk About Feelings
   Make talking about feelings a regular part of family life. Encourage children to share their emotions, and validate their feelings by acknowledging them without judgment.

3. Use Books and Stories
   Reading stories that explore emotions and discussing the characters’ feelings can help children identify emotions and understand their own.

4. Practice Active Listening
   Show children that their feelings are valued by listening actively when they express themselves. Reflect back what they say, which helps them feel understood and promotes empathy.

Resources to Support Emotional Literacy

Brave Beginnings offers tools like the Emotional Regulation Workbook and Wellbeing Journal, which provide structured activities to help children practice recognising, understanding, and expressing their emotions. These resources make learning emotional literacy fun and engaging for children.

Conclusion

Supporting children’s emotional literacy is one of the greatest gifts parents and educators can provide. By giving children the language and tools to express themselves, we set them up for success in every area of life.

Explore our Emotional Regulation Workbook and Wellbeing Journal to support your child’s journey in building emotional literacy.