The Value of Emotional Literacy

"Emotions are part of our genetic heritage. Fish swim, birds fly, and people feel. Sometimes we are happy, sometimes we are not; but sometimes in our lives we are sure to feel anger and fear, sadness and joy, greed and guilt, lust and scorn, delight and disgust. While we are not free to choose the emotions that arise in us, we are free to choose how and when to express them, provided we know what they are. That is the crux of the problem. Many people have been educated out of knowing what their feelings are. When they felt hate, they were told it was only dislike. When they were afraid, they were told there was nothing to be afraid of. When they felt pain, they were advised to be brave and smile. Many of us have been taught to pretend to be happy when we're not.

What is suggested in the place of this pretense? Truth. Emotional education can help children to know what they feel. It is more important for a child to know what she feels than why she feels it. When she knows clearly what her feelings are, she is less likely to feel ‘all mixed up’ inside.”

-Dr. Haim G. Ginott, Between Parent and Child

What is Emotional Literacy?

Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, understand, and express our own emotions and the emotions of others. Emotional literacy is closely tied to empathy and allows us to have compassion for ourselves and those around us. By learning the language of feelings, children can better navigate emotional turmoil, practice productive coping skills, and recover from upset.

The 5 Factors of Emotional Literacy:

Motivation: Motivation refers to the inner drive or desire that prompts individuals to take action or pursue particular goals. An understanding of emotions gives us insight into our motivations and subsequent behaviors.
Empathy: Empathy requires us to recognize, identify with, and seek to understand the emotions and experiences of ourselves and others. Through empathy, we can develop a growth mindset that allows us to move forward rather than getting stuck.
Self-Regulation: Self-regulation is the ability to manage one's own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a constructive and adaptive manner so that we can learn from mistakes and recover from setbacks.
Emotional Awareness: Emotional awareness is a skill that involves being attuned to the subtle (or not so subtle!) nuances of one's emotional experiences, including the intensity, duration, and underlying causes of different feelings.
Social Skills: Social skills are the abilities and competencies that enable individuals to interact effectively and harmoniously with others in various social contexts.

The Development and Validation of the Emotional Literacy Skills Scale

How to Cultivate Emotional Literacy

We can start fostering emotional literacy as early as infancy, but people of all ages can benefit from becoming fluent in emotional intelligence. One of the best ways to teach is to model—explore your own moods and feelings from an empathetic perspective to show kids that perfection is unsustainable, or grief is palpable, or lashing out is mendable. Allow children to witness the healthy management of feelings and show them how to repair and recover from missteps. Here are some ideas that support emotional literacy:

Conversation: Encourage open dialogue about what emotions are, what they feel like, and how we can handle them. Scenario prompts that are followed by questions like “how would you feel?” or “what would you do?” can help kids mentally rehearse productive outcomes for dealing with uncomfortable, oversized emotions.
Literature: Reading a diverse range of books to kids can help them expand their emotional vocabulary and exercise their ability to take the perspective of others. Check out our curated children’s book lists here.
Play: There are structured games and activities that specifically target social and emotional learning for kids, but open-ended imaginative play can also help children develop emotional intelligence! Check out our recommended toys for social and emotional learning here.

By prioritizing emotional literacy in everyday interactions, we sow the seeds for resilient, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent individuals who are equipped to navigate the complexities of life.

Recommended resources, materials, and games that support the development and maintenance of emotional literacy in toddlers, big kids, and teenagers:

Free Printable PDF Feeling Chart for Therapy with Kids — Feeling Chart

This visual aid allows kids to identify, express, and understand their feelings in a tangible way. By regularly using feeling charts, kids develop emotional intelligence and gain insight into their moods and actions. Feeling charts create a visual language around emotions which allows therapists, parents, and educators to provide targeted support to kids in need.
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Therapeutic Activities tab!

My Feelings Bean Bags for Therapy with Kids — My Feelings Bean Bags

These sensorial bean bags are filled with crunchy beans and are animated with recognizable emotions. Play hide-n-seek or catch with these bean bags, and talk about the emotions depicted on each one.

Free Printable PDF Scenario Cards for Counseling Children — Scenario Cards

School-based scenario cards help kids think and talk about the complex issues that may arise outside of the home. They are a great way for kids to mentally rehearse situations while practicing empathy for themselves and others.
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Conversation Starters tab!

Conversation Cards for Social and Logical Inference for Counseling Children — What’s Going on Here?

These conversation cards use visual scenarios and question prompts to help kids develop social and logical inferencing skills. They are a great resource for young children or visual learners!

Free Printable PDF Feeling and Behavior Pattern Therapeutic Worksheet for Kids and Teens — Feeling & Behavior Patterns

This worksheet helps kids identify, relate to, and troubleshoot emotional and behavioral patterns. The visual worksheet is accompanied by talking points to help kids take new perspectives and build empathy and resilience.
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Therapeutic Activities tab!

Make the Emotion Face, Toys for Play Therapy and Social Emotional Learning — Emotion Faces

By arranging pieces to create various facial expressions, children engage in a hands-on, visual exploration of emotions. This playful approach encourages open dialogue about feelings and helps children develop emotional intelligence and articulation.

Free Printable PDF Color Coded Feeling Chart — Color-Coded Feelings

Color-coded feeling charts are an effective way to help kids understand, talk about, and manage their emotions. By building a strong emotionally literate foundation, kids gain the ability to articulate their thoughts, improve social skills, develop empathy, and form healthy connections.
This chart is an excellent companion to board games as it facilitates the incorporation of accessible emotional development practice. For example, use this chart while playing Candy Land and talk about the corresponding feeling when you draw a color card!
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Therapeutic Activities tab!

Emotion Cubes for Social Emotional Learning Activities for Counseling Children — Emotion Cubes

Emotion Cubes are interactive prompts that encourage expression and discussion. Dice-like soft foam cubes help kids relate words to feelings with depictions of common emotions.

Free Printable PDF Writing Exercise Worksheet for Counseling Adolescents, The Emotional Backpack — The Emotional Backpack

This prompt encourages kids to think and write about preoccupying parts of their consciousness. By visualizing “carrying” challenging memories, thoughts, or feelings, they can also begin to “unpack” what is not productive.
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Writing Prompts tab!

Feeling Cards for Counseling Children — Feeling Cards

Feeling cards provide a visual and interactive way to explore a spectrum of feelings and coping skills. These cards can be used to facilitate open dialogue and help children articulate and navigate their emotions.

Free Printable PDF Emotion Equations Worksheet for Counseling Children — Emotion Equations

Not getting enough sleep can change the way we feel our emotions. What other factors effect the way we feel and behave? This worksheet helps kids understand how different environmental, physiological, social, emotional, or physical factors may effect their emotional expression. When kids understand their feelings, they are better able to self-regulate and have empathy for themselves and others.
Find a free PDF printable version of this resource and others in our Therapeutic Activities tab!

Social Skills Board Game for Counseling Children — Social Skills Game

This simple, easy-to-learn board game targets the development of 4 essential social skills: empathy, friendship, manners, and emotional understanding.

Want more? Explore our specially selected children’s books about feelings HERE.

REFERENCES

Alemdar, M., & Anılan, H. (2022). The development and validation of the Emotional Literacy Skills scale. International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, 7(2), 258–270. https://doi.org/10.33200/ijcer.757853

Fostering Emotional literacy in young Children: Labeling Emotions | ECLKC. (2021, October 22). ECLKC. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/mental-health/article/fostering-emotional-literacy-young-children-labeling-emotions

Ginott, H. G. (2003). Between Parent and Child: Revised and updated: The Bestselling Classic That Revolutionized Parent-Child Communication. National Geographic Books.

Kylie Rymanowicz, Michigan State University Extension. (2017, February 16). Children and empathy: Teaching emotional literacy. MSU Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/children_and_empathy_teaching_emotional_literacy

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