Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings: A Conversation on Emotional Intelligence

Parenting expert Dr Rosina McAlpine interviewed on ABC Illawarra.

Do your little ones sometimes get overwhelmed by big emotions? You’re not alone. Many parents wonder how to best support their children when they’re frustrated, sad, angry, or even jealous.

That’s why I recently joined ABC Illawarra to talk about one of the most powerful skills we can nurture in children: emotional intelligence.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters

Emotional intelligence is about more than just “managing emotions.” It’s the ability to:

• Recognise emotions in ourselves.

• Regulate and manage them in healthy ways.

• Understand how others are feeling.

• Build stronger, more caring relationships.

When kids develop these skills, they do better at school, enjoy stronger friendships, and grow into more resilient adults.

Practical Tips You’ll Hear in the Audio

In this conversation, I share simple strategies parents can use right away with preschool and primary school-aged children, including:

• Expanding your child’s emotional vocabulary (“Is this frustration or disappointment?”).

• Calming activities like the flower and candle breathing game or balloon breathing.

• How to handle sibling rivalry as a learning opportunity for empathy.

Listen to the Full Conversation

This blog only scratches the surface. To dive deeper into these practical tips - and to hear how parents can turn emotional challenges into growth opportunities - tune in to my chat on ABC Illawarra.

Coming Up Next

In this series, we’ll also explore how teenagers can develop emotional intelligence-because those years bring a whole new set of challenges (and opportunities!). Stay tuned!