Why should I bother to talk about and learn about emotions in class? What's the point? top
Everybody has feelings all the time. Knowing what your feelings are, how strong they are, how they change during the course of the day, and how you can influence them gives you more control over yourself and your actions. Here's how: knowing more about your feelings can help you think clearly for taking tests and doing work in school; knowing your emotions and managing them is a first step towards making friends, solving problems, showing caring behavior to others, and getting along well with your family. As a kid, you're learning about the world all the time. Think about it -you're trying to make sense out of the way people act the way they do and how problems are solved in the world. You also need to make sense out of your own behavior in the world to help you make the best choices and take the best actions for yourself. Knowing your emotions means being emotionally literate; it is as important as knowing the alphabet.

When and where's a good time for me to show my emotions? top
There is no definite answer to this question. Each and every situation is different and you need to decide not just whether or not to show your emotions but how much emotion to show and how to show it. For example: let's say someone is nasty to your friend and you are really angry. You may decide to say something in anger to the person who made the comment. Even so, you will decide how much to say, what tone of voice to use and how to phrase it. A very famous philosopher, Aristotle, once said it is important for us to know how, when, to whom, and to what degree to express a feeling. These are the decisions you can make for yourself every day. Just remember, that knowing what your feelings are in the first place, is the first step in knowing when and where to show your emotions.

Who should I talk to if I feel "emotional"? top
It depends on what you feel emotional about. Look for someone you can trust with your feelings and with whom you feel comfortable. You may be lucky enough to have many grownups who fall in that category. At school you can look for teachers, counselors, other staff members. At home, you can talk to parents, care takers or friends of your family. It's also great to talk to friends about your feelings. If you're aware of your feelings when you're with your friends, you can talk about them right there and then, using your best sense about how much and in what way to share your emotions. Remember to talk to people who are good listeners, show you caring responses, and who earn your trust over time.

Are girls better than boys at emotions? top
No, girls are typically better than boys at labeling and expressing emotions, but both boys and girls can learn to know more about their emotions, to express their emotions, and to handle them in the best way at all times.

What are the differences among emotions, mood, and feelings? top
This can be confusing. People use the words feelings and emotions to mean the same thing, but, to be accurate, emotions are specific feelings that describe what's going on deep down inside of us as we go through the day in school and home - and how we react emotionally. For example, I feel sad or angry or happy describes an emotion. A feeling can also describe a physical state that is not emotional - like I feel cold or jumpy or tired. Another example of what's not an emotion is when you say, "I feel you should be a better friend" or "I feel that he's wrong." Instead, it's a judgment and a description of someone else's behavior. A mood is a bunch of emotions or feelings that last for a period of time, like a morning or a couple of days. A mood describes a person's feeling in larger terms than just emotions. So you can feel angry but be in a bad mood.

Are boys allowed to cry? top
Boys should definitely be encouraged to express their emotions however they want to. Yes, boys are allowed to cry.

How can emotion have intelligence? What's Emotional Intelligence (EI)? top
EI is a way to think about how our emotions are "smart" and how we can use our emotions to help us think through problems and everyday situations. It also means that we can our thinking skills to influence our emotions. EI describes how your mind talks to your heart and how your heart talks to your mind. For example, if your friend doesn't invite you to a party and you notice, you can get angry and begin yelling at your mom about something unrelated to the party. Using EI, you can say to yourself "wait a minute, I am not really angry at my mom. I am really upset that my friends didn't invite me to the party. Maybe I can talk to her about that." That awareness and being able to manage emotions inside yourself can help you be in a better mood and not to take out your anger on your mom.

How can my counselors and teachers help me with learning about my emotions? top
There are a few ways that teachers and counselors can help. First of all, they set a good example by dealing effectively with their own emotions and by saying aloud how they understand and manage their own feelings. Secondly, they can help you to build your feelings vocabulary, ask questions about your emotions, ask you questions about how you perceive social and emotional situations, and share their insights about it. Thirdly, they can create lessons in school and lessons to take home that will give you opportunities to learn more and practice new skills and understandings. Can you think of other ways?

What should I do if I feel uncomfortable talking about my emotions to my teacher? top
It depends on what kind of uncomfortable. If your uncomfortable feeling is a feeling about yourself, for instance, it's hard for you to talk about your feelings with a stranger or with somebody who's not your family, then I would encourage you to take the risk and keep talking. If you were uncomfortable because you didn't feel the way the teacher's responding to you in the way that is encouraging you, I would take the risk and tell the teacher. If you're uncomfortable telling the teachers about it, tell the counselors and ask for help because maybe there are ways the counselor can talk to you that could be helpful. If you were uncomfortable because the teacher is in some way negative or making fun of you, I would stop talking about my feelings and tell my parents. You want to make sure the person you're talking to your feelings about is someone who respects every part of you, including your emotions. Think about your teachers as not just educators of different subjects, but also, educators of hearts and minds, and educators of emotions as well as school subjects.