As a mother, I used to think that love and good care were enough for my child to grow up happy. But then came the days when my child burst into tears over the wrong color spoon, threw toys in anger, or sat quietly in unexplained sadness. That’s when I realized: young children have a complex emotional world but they lack the words to express it. I began exploring ways to help my child recognize and manage emotions, and I discovered a wonderful companion on this journey: children’s books about emotions and feelings. These books help young kids name their emotions, understand they are not alone, and learn simple ways to cope, laying the foundation for empathy and emotional resilience.

In our daily routine, books became a gentle guide for both of us. Each evening, we picked a story together. When we reached a part where a character was sad or angry, I would ask, “How do you think they feel?” or “What would you do if you were them?” At first, my child would just shrug. But slowly, they began to say things like, “They’re sad, they need a hug.” I realized these small moments were precious opportunities, not only was my child learning to identify feelings, but I was also learning to listen without judgment. Instead of saying, “Stop it, there’s no need to be upset,” I started saying, “I see you’re angry let’s take a deep breath together.” We were both learning, side by side.

To parents who feel lost when facing their child’s big emotions, I would say: start with a small book. You don’t need lectures or strict lessons,I Can Be Confident: A Story for Kids Learning to Believe in ThemselvesI Can Be Confident: A Story for Kids Learning to Believe in Themselves just sit together, turn the pages, and let the stories open up conversations. Books about emotions and feelings aren’t magic fixes, but they create space for connection and understanding. They remind us that emotional growth is not about “teaching” children in the usual sense, but about accompanying them with patience, curiosity, and love.