Expert Advice - Help Little Kids Deal With Big Feelings

Simple steps to build their emotional intelligence

Teaching children to recognize and cope with emotions like anxiety and anger is no easy feat. But once they learn, they’ll have tools that can last a lifetime. The key? Start early. “Most of a child’s brain is developed by age 5,” says Kelly Oriard, a former pre-K and elementary school counselor with a dual master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and school counseling. After years of working with young students who needed emotional support, Oriard, with special-education teacher Callie Christensen, developed Slumberkins, a line of stuffed animals and storybooks to help kids recognize and understand their feelings. But you don’t need the toys to take an active role in ramping up your child’s emotional intelligence. Teach kiddos to tackle three tough emotions with these techniques:

Release Anger