Why are Emotions Important?
All children, in every walk of life, will struggle with their emotions from time to time. Modern family life is complex and it could be argued that children have to deal with more emotional pressures than ever before and many parents, carers, teachers etc. struggle to know how to effectively deal with them to.
Why are emotions important?
All emotions are important to us, even the difficult ones; they are part of nature’s natural warning system. Think of a crying baby being able to let you know they are hungry, tired, thirsty, cold, hot, bored etc. But as adults, we sometimes lose sight of this and often finding emotions difficult to understand, becoming fearful and uncertain of how to respond.
How do children learn about emotions?
Playing is key to child development - Piaget (1954) was the first to show us the importance of independent play with objects for child development. Whilst Vygotsky (1967) argued that cognitive development is dependent on social interactions with both adults and other children. Both in fact are key to the development of good mental health in childhood, helping the child learn about their own emotions and other people’s. This is necessary for the child’s emerging theory of mind.
Why are stories important?
As humans we have evolved as a species to use mental narratives (stories) to organise, predict, and understand the complexities of the world around us. Our choices are shaped largely by the meanings we attribute to events that occur and influence our response. A problem may have personal, psychological, sociocultural, or biological roots-or, more likely a complex mix of all the above. Stories bring people together and help us to make sense of our lived experiences.
What can adults do to help?
The child’s ability to thrive or struggle is rooted in relationships, particularly those of its significant attachment figures, as both Bowlby (1988b), Ainsworth (1989) many others since describe. When a child is upset, it is the parents/carers who help to regulate that emotion by cuddling, soothing or removing them from the upsetting situation.
Why do we need emotional education?
Children and their families may not have control over whether, or when certain problems come into their lives. If significant relationships are damaged the child may experience problems regulating their emotions. Learning about core emotions, as defined by Ekman (1989), and how to deal with them at an early age is key to building resilience throughout life. Some adults may need support with this part too, so Finding Your Way is designed to include all those who are part of the child's emotional journey to adulthood. Through learning together and role modelling we can achieve better understanding and ultimately better mental health for all.
If you have any questions about any of the above or would like to discuss more, please get in touch.
