Excitement or happiness can quickly turn to frustration and upset as young children grapple with their emotions. Learning how to recognise and communicate this wide range of feelings is an important part of growing up. Practitioners can help by providing a safe place, the language and resources to support children to explore and consider their emotions.
The best resource of all, says early years consultant Penny Tassoni, is a caring adult who is tuned in to the child. ‘You have to be very realistic about what any resource will deliver because it is always humans who deliver on emotions,’ she explains.
She adds, ‘They may be playing with cuddly animals, setting goals, modelling social situations and using props, but it is adults who help children to make sense of situations through conversations.’
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