Kids are human beings, and should not be held to a higher standard when it comes to having emotions. it’s best that they are able to have the emotions that they feel even if they don’t outwardly express them. If they are forced to fake being happy this can take a toll on them emotionally and wear them out. There are better ways to allow them to deal with their feelings instead of telling them not to feel at all. Allow kids to name their feelings and to have them.
Key Takeaways:
- In a recent study, kindergartners who feigned positive emotions were found to perform worse on a subsequent cognitive task.
- Exerting self-control – such as by suppressing disappointment after receiving a bad gift – can be exhausting.
- Instead of asking children to completely suppress emotions, we can teach them to express emotions internally.
“Emotional suppression is a particularly costly self-regulation strategy. It tends to use up a lot of self-control.”