Tips to teach X-pressing themselves to Kids

5 Tips to teach children to X-press themselves.

How many of you have grown up listening to the phrase, “Kids are to be seen and not to be heard,” during your childhood days? Most of our generation has grown up on this principle only. That’s the reason why we are not able to express ourselves freely. No wonder stress and anxiety levels are increasing, and heart diseases are rising. Especially in today’s virtual world, humans are becoming increasingly isolated from fellow beings and feeling happy that they are getting virtually connected. There is no harm in getting almost connected, but unless we express our feelings, the burden in our hearts won’t lighten up. So by teaching children at an early age itself to identify their emotions and x-press themselves, we are paving their way towards a happy life.

5 Tips to teach Kids to Express themselves

Most will pick up emoji if you ask anyone, which is the most popular feature in the social media world. Depending on their mood and styles, people also use customized emojis. Have you ever thought about why and where this craze about emojis came across? Have you ever observed what your toddler/kid would do with the mobile phone when the chat windows were open? They try to send various emojis to any number which comes to their hand. The logic behind the kid’s action is also the answer to the above question. “A picture is worth more than 1000 words”. Confused. Humans are conditioned to express their views, which is why God has given us a voice too. But, since we are conditioned not to raise our voices and wear our emotions on our sleeves, we don’t use words but emojis to express our feelings.

So, as parents, we need to let go of some of the earlier generation parenting rules and include the new age principles. Of course, the older people in the house might say that we are giving too much freedom to kids and spoiling them, but it’s required in this new age, as our kids have to live in a future world filled with many more uncertainties than today. Unless they can x-press themselves and bond with others, these kids will not be able to survive in the new world.

Tips to teach self-expression or x-pressing themselves to Kids:

The following are a few tips that parents can use to teach children to x-press themselves.

  1. Identify and Name the Emotions: It always helps to teach the children to identify different emotions and feelings one can have with the help of an emotions chart. We can use the names to identify various emotions as they age.

2. Establish a deeper connection with Kids: Parenting should not be limited to the transactional affair. Parents with deeper bonds or relationships with their kids will not spend their whole time with them. Whenever they sit with their kids, they give 100% of themselves without any distractions. That gives them the confidence to the kids that their parents are always there for them and will listen to them when needed.

3. Open Communication: The communication channel between you and your child should always be open and non-judgemental. The kids should be confident that parents will not judge or lecture them when sharing their feelings. To establish that connection, honest communication is a must.

4. Play enact various situations: Younger kids will understand better if we play pass how to react to different emotions and express our feelings better.

5. Be a role model: Kids always learn by observing. If they see us hiding all our inner thoughts within us and suppressing them without sharing, then they will not learn to share their thoughts. We need to share our thoughts and emotions, like hurt, disappointments, etc., in front of them; then, the kids would also learn the same.

5 Tips to teach kids about Self Expression

There are a lot of books on SEL concepts and you-tube videos available, and we can use those along with the tips mentioned above to teach children to x-press themselves clearly, without any inhibitions. By doing so, we provide the right environment for the kids to develop into happy, confident adults ready to conquer the world. You can read more such posts here.

Suhasini, IP, is the Author of the book “Practical Tips for Kids Mental Health.” As a certified kids and parents life coach, she helps/guides you toward a happy family life for your kids. She firmly believes that “Emotionally Happy Kids of today are the Mentally Strong and Happy Citizens of tomorrow.” Let’s make the world a happy and beautiful place for our kids to thrive.

17 Comments

  1. Nice post. also a very innovative way of writing on the ‘X” word 🙂

    Rajeev Moothedath

  2. Absolutely loved your points on how parents and kids should connect. But i am still for old school of parenting.
    Deepika Sharma

  3. I am very close yo both my kids and they can talk to me about anything and everything on this planet. In fact my elder one used to be very timid but as she grew older , she started speaking her mind and I am totally loving it, in fact really proud of it. I always tell her what ever you want to express you should but be assertive. You don;t need to be rude but still convey what you want to.

  4. Self expression needs parents confidence and trust, and we need to make sure children are free to express their feeling to us in the most comfortable manner. Having a teenager at home, I do face this situation when I feel may be he wants to say but fears, I need to be more open to hear him maybe. Your points/./ tips are really good to develop better bond and connect.

  5. Building confidence is a must. Kids love playacting and its the best way to get them out of their shell. Communication is the key to bonding between parents and kids.Very apt points you have listed out dear.

  6. Being a role model is so important. Giving then from to talk would help then to express their thighs.

  7. I totally agree with you that making a connection with kids is extremely important so that they can approach you for any kind of expression.

  8. Great tips dear and I feel that for parents, it is very important to make a good connection with kids with proper and positive communication . this is a key to build a strong foundation for future relationship .

  9. Connection and communication play a very important role when it comes to teaching kids the value of expressing themselves assertively. The more open the communication is, more they will feel comfortable in naming their emotions in front of us. Thanks for this amazing post.

  10. I agree that children should learn how to express themselves, it helps in their physical as well as mental development.

  11. Children often find it hard to express buddy, these tips are really vital in aiding them come out of their shells and communicate

    1. Well said Roma and that’s the reason why parents have to really take time to teach the kids to express themselves.

  12. Trust is what the kid must feel to express themselves to parents. It might sound or seem like being given a lot of freedom and space but that works wonders is the truth

  13. Kids freely express themselves when they know they’ll be heard. We must encourage that in any way they like, be it drawing, music or emoticons.

  14. Making a good connection with your kids, so that they can feel the ease to share with you anything anytime, is the most crucial part of parenting. I strongly support all the pointers!

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