Emotional Language

As adults, we have the knowledge and the adequate language to express our feelings. This is referred to as our emotional language. We can also decipher the emotions going through us; we understand when we are sad versus angry and don't usually confuse the emotions. 

Children, on the other hand, are still learning about it. They may use words or express themselves in ways they know will incite a reaction. Depending on the reaction, the child will then understand what the emotion is supposed to be. So the question is, what reaction should we be giving? 

The best reaction we can give them, initially, is space. Giving children the ability to think through their emotions allows them to assess what they are supposed to do. After giving them that space, then we talk to them. We ask them what they are feeling. We talk about how we might work through the situation and show them our language. We are the most significant role models the children will see, so we must show them the appropriate language to use in any situation. 

The appropriate language might vary based on each family and its values. Language changes based on different families; our culture and our surroundings tell us how to communicate with each other. An appropriate language in one culture may not convey the best tone in another. Thus, a happy medium needs to be found in a school setting. Rules are set from the beginning of the school year and are consistently brought up throughout the year. They convey a sense of understanding that we always talk to others and ensure everyone feels good. If someone is not being nice to us, we need to talk to them and figure out why they are acting this way.

An example would be, "I do not like you taking my things. You can ask if you would like to play with my toys." If someone does a kind thing for us, we say thank you for doing that; for example, "Thank you for helping them roll up their rug so nicely." The best way to ensure that the rules stay in the child's mind is by consistently bringing them up. 

Overall, the language we use daily affects the children around us. We need to make sure that we use language that is appropriate to the setting that we are in and that the children understand the emotional language that they use.

—Caterpillar Teacher