Should We Wear Our Hearts On Our Sleeves?

This conversation can help your child appreciate the difference between having feelings and expressing those feelings. Learning to modulate and manage expression is a key part in getting along with others and belonging to a community. The common phrase, wearing your heart on your sleeve, means to make your feelings and opinions obvious to other people.

Explore the advantages and disadvantages of displaying what you are feeling.

Go through emotions one at a time – discuss the impact of showing (or not showing) each one. Love? Silliness? impatience? Boredom? Anger? Gratitude? Brainstorm some best ways for each.

As parents, we may want to give lots of hugs and kisses to our kids as they head off to school. We want to show our love. Any thoughts on when that is a good thing? And not a good thing?