Don't ask a lot of questions and don't expect your child, especially if he is under five, to explain his feelings. White says family prayer time or family meetings offer parents another window into their children's feelings. For instance, if a child asks God to stop a certain person from punching him, the parent may later ask the child to tell them a little more about what is happening. Once your youngster's feelings become apparent, the two of you can take specific steps to help the child feel better. Lorentzon says different emotions require different tactics.
Anger demands action.
Children are usually angry because something is unfair, and their anger generates a lot of energy. They may need to do something constructive to make a situation better, or if they can't do that, they may need to do something physical to move the feeling through the body. They need to provide a place for that energy to go. For instance, if a child can't confront the person who has wronged them, they might hit a pillow, yell, or draw a nasty picture. Sadness, on the other hand, requires comfort .