{"id":678,"date":"2020-12-10T14:40:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T19:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/?p=678"},"modified":"2022-07-29T13:34:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T17:34:52","slug":"small-children-big-feelings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/masfec.org\/ht\/small-children-big-feelings\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Children, Big Feelings"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Listen to Mathu read this post!<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

Between the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread financial struggles caused by quarantine and lockdown, drawn-out conflicts over the presidential election, and ongoing awareness of the impact of racism, this year has been a tumultuous one. Add in the swirling emotions that often come with the holidays and it’s no wonder that children and families may be feeling more than a little overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

While they may not be aware of what exactly is going on outside of their daily life,\u00a0 children under the age of five are highly attuned to the feelings of others, particularly adults. Without knowing the details, many can sense that something is not quite right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On top of all this, the pandemic alone has resulted in significant shifts in children\u2019s routines as childcare settings open and then close again and parents\/caregivers struggle to juggle the demands of work and family.\u00a0 All of this contributes to \u201cbig feelings\u201d that in young children may manifest in puzzling or trying ways. For adults, strong emotions are difficult to explain and cope with; for pre-verbal children, strong emotions can feel impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The first step in helping young children cope with big feelings is to provide them with the language they need to talk about what they are experiencing. Identifying emotions is something you can incorporate into your daily routine. Ways to do this include:<\/span><\/p>\n