Helping Children Express Feelings Through Words, Play & Actions

Children experience big emotions long before they have the language to explain them. Joy, frustration, excitement, and disappointment can all show up in ways that feel confusing for both children and parents. For children with speech delays or social communication challenges, expressing emotions can be especially difficult. They may understand how they feel but struggle to share it in words.

Understanding the many ways children express emotions and how to support those skills can make everyday interactions feel calmer, more connected, and more meaningful.

How Children Express Emotions in Different Ways

Not all emotional expression happens through spoken language. Children often communicate feelings through play, actions, body language, and behaviour before they can label emotions verbally. A child may push toys away when overwhelmed, cling to a caregiver when anxious, or reenact emotional situations through pretend play.

Some children are more comfortable expressing emotions through movement, art, or play rather than words. Others may rely on gestures, facial expressions, or changes in behaviour. These are all valid forms of communication and important building blocks for emotional development.

Why Emotional Expression Can Be Challenging

Children with speech or language delays, social communication differences, or regulation challenges may have difficulty:

• Finding the words to describe how they feel

• Recognizing emotions in themselves or others

• Using language during moments of frustration or stress

• Interpreting social cues related to emotions

  
  

When emotions feel overwhelming, communication often becomes even harder. This can lead to meltdowns, withdrawal, or behaviours that are misunderstood as “acting out,” when the child is actually communicating a need.

Supporting Emotional Expression Through Everyday Moments

There are many simple ways parents can support emotional expression at home:

• Model emotion language: Naming your own feelings helps children learn the words they’ll eventually use themselves. Simple phrases like, “I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m taking a break,” build emotional vocabulary naturally.

• Use play as a learning tool: Pretend play, dolls, and storytelling give children a safe way to explore emotions. Talking about how characters feel and why helps build understanding without pressure.

• Validate emotions before problem-solving: Acknowledging feelings (“That looks really upsetting”) helps children feel understood and supported, making it easier for them to communicate.

  
  

• Encourage non-verbal expression: Drawing, movement, and sensory play can help children release emotions and communicate when words feel hard to access.

How Therapy Can Help

Speech therapy supports children in developing the language needed to express emotions, advocate for themselves, and navigate social interactions. Therapy often focuses on building emotional vocabulary, social communication skills, and confidence using play-based, child-centred approaches.

In some cases, behaviour consultation and pediatric occupational therapy can also support emotional regulation by addressing sensory processing, attention, and coping strategies that impact communication.

Parents frequently have questions about practical details like pricing for speech therapy or pediatric occupational therapy in Ontario, what coverage may be available through extended health benefits, and whether a doctor’s referral is needed to get started. In most cases, families can access private speech and OT services without a referral, and many insurance plans provide some level of reimbursement. Therapy and assessment options are often flexible as well, with services offered in clinics, in the home, or through virtual sessions to fit different family preferences.

Supporting Your Child with Confidence

Helping children express feelings through words, play, and actions takes time, patience, and support. With the right tools, children can learn to communicate emotions in ways that feel safe and empowering.

At Hello Speech, we provide speech therapy, behaviour consultation, and pediatric OT services across Toronto, the GTA, and surrounding communities, including Thornhill. Our team works closely with families to support communication, emotional regulation, and social development in meaningful, everyday ways.

If you’re curious about assessments or therapy options, reach out to us. We’re here to help you explore what support might look like for your child.