Building Emotional Literacy at Home: How to Help Kids Name Their Feelings

Have you ever watched your child swing through a whole rollercoaster of emotions in the space of an hour? One minute they’re thrilled about a new toy, the next they’re frustrated because the cereal isn’t the 'right' colour - and suddenly the supermarket meltdown begins.

As parents, carers and educators, it’s easy to focus on managing behaviour, but what if we spent a little more time helping children name what they’re feeling? Giving children the words for their emotions - big or small - is one of the simplest ways to help them understand themselves, manage challenges and connect with others.

Why Emotional Literacy Matters

Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand and talk about feelings. Children (and adults) who can name their feelings are better able to manage them, seek help when needed and develop empathy for others.

Psychologists have identified six basic universal emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise. But when you expand these into different intensities and combinations, there are over 100 distinct feelings.

Most adults can only name a handful easily, and children start with just a few words like “happy”, “sad”, or “angry”. Helping children build their emotional vocabulary gives them a toolkit for understanding themselves and communicating more effectively with others. The more feelings they can name, the better they can manage them - from everyday frustrations to bigger challenges.

Gender Differences in Emotional Literacy

Research shows we’re more likely to teach girls the words for their emotions than boys. Girls are encouraged to describe how they feel; boys are often shown how to manage their behaviour instead. Whatever their gender, children benefit when we give them the language to express what’s happening inside. 

5 Practical Ways to Build Emotional Literacy at Home

1. Model emotion naming: Show children how you name your own feelings: “I’m feeling a little frustrated because…” Learning by example is powerful.
2. Create a daily check-in: Even a short, consistent moment to ask “How are you feeling right now?” helps children reflect on their emotions and build vocabulary.
3. Read stories and discuss characters’ emotions: Books provide opportunities to explore a wide range of feelings and develop empathy. Ask questions like: “Why do you think she felt that way?” or “What would you feel in the same situation?”
4. Use visual tools: Feeling charts, emotion wheels, or simple word banks help children differentiate emotions beyond basic “happy” or “sad,” making abstract feelings more concrete.
5. Use conversation prompts: Tools like our Happy Confident Me Conversation Cards can make it fun to ask open questions, encouraging children to share what they’re feeling - from tiny annoyances to big triumphs.

Why is A Kids' Clothing Brand Talking About Feelings?

At Ducky Zebra, our playful prints aren’t just fun - they’re designed to make a positive difference. That means:

• Challenging gender stereotypes and giving all children the same opportunities, whether that’s building confidence, developing emotional literacy, or becoming little adventurers. 
• Encouraging self-expression through bold, playful designs that let children be themselves.
• Supporting mental wellbeing by pairing clothing with messages and tools that spark meaningful conversations.

We believe that what children wear can reflect and inspire how they feel, think and interact - helping them navigate emotions with curiosity, courage and confidence.

We’d love to hear from you: how do you encourage your children to name and talk about their feelings? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!