Helping Your Child Express Emotions Through Playful Activities

Why Emotional Expression Matters (Even If Your Child Doesn’t Want to Talk)

If you're reading this, it probably means your child is going through something, and you're not quite sure how to help. Maybe homework ends in tears more often than not. Maybe you're starting to notice that something as small as a forgotten pencil can trigger an outsized reaction. As a parent, you want to support your child, but sometimes they simply shut down—or say nothing at all.

The truth is, children between the ages of 6 and 12 are still learning the language of emotions. They feel everything—from frustration to sadness to confusion—but don't always have the words (or the willingness) to explain what’s going on inside. That’s where playful, low-pressure activities can step in—not to "fix" the feelings, but to give children safe, engaging ways to express them.

Emotions Live in the Body, Not Just the Mind

We often think of talking as the primary way to process emotions. But for many kids, especially those facing learning challenges or school-related stress, talking about feelings can be intimidating or just plain frustrating. Instead, children often express emotions through movement, imagination, and play.

By offering your child activities that feel like play—but carry emotional significance—you make space for healing and communication without pressure. These moments often appear during shared laughter, focused creativity, or even during quiet time.

Here’s how you can tap into that emotional world—one enjoyable activity at a time.

Use Drawing and Art as Emotional Outlets

Children use images long before they’re comfortable with descriptive language. That crayon storm they scribbled on a page? It might mean more than it looks. Offer open-ended drawing sessions with gentle prompts like “Can you draw what your day felt like?” or “What does angry look like as a monster or a color?”

What matters most isn't interpreting their artwork like an expert—but creating space that gives them control. Let them lead, explain—or not explain—what they've drawn. Often, the act of drawing is itself the processing method.

Storytelling as a Secret Window to the Heart

Kids may struggle to talk about their own feelings, but they’ll often project those feelings onto characters. Whether you co-write a short story, act out a scene with stuffed animals, or invent a silly superhero together, listen carefully. The shy bunny who gets picked last at school? That might be your child's way of talking about feeling excluded or nervous in class.

If you’re unsure how to start, this guide on using storytelling to build communication can help you ease into it in a way that feels natural and fun.

Let Movement Say What Words Can’t

Physical play is another powerful route to expression. Kids who can’t sit still after school may be carrying stress in their bodies. Dance, sports, even silly obstacle courses in the living room can become emotional safety valves.

You can deepen these experiences by inviting your child to connect emotion and motion: “If your worry could dance, what would it look like?” Or play a quick game where each movement represents a different feeling. A stomp for frustration. A wiggle for silly joy. These games reinforce body-awareness and emotional vocabulary together.

And if your child tends to withdraw instead of act out, quiet movement-based activities like yoga poses, deep breathing games, or imaginative body scans can provide peaceful ways to reconnect, especially after exhausting school days. Consider checking out our reflection on the power of quiet time as a tool for emotional balance.

Audio Stories: A Gentle Gateway to Big Feelings

Sometimes, all a stressed-out child needs is a voice that isn’t telling them what to do. A calming story, told aloud, can be like a reset button—not only for children but for parents, too. That’s part of the reason why the LISN Kids App can be such a useful companion. Filled with original audiobooks and clever audio series created for kids between 3 and 12, it's perfect for those after-school moments when everyone needs to unwind in a meaningful way. Available on iOS and Android, it offers kids stories they can relate to emotionally—without requiring them to explain anything out loud.

You Don’t Have to Get It Perfect

Many parents worry they’re not doing enough—or doing the right things. But the goal here isn't about solving every emotion or decoding every outburst. It's about making time, again and again, to step gently into your child’s world using tools they naturally understand. Emotionally expressive play is a long-term investment in connection, not a short-term fix.

Try setting aside 15 to 30 minutes a few times a week just for creative or physical activities that let your child lead or co-create. Not only do they learn emotional skills over time—but so do you, as the parent. You may even find deep joy in these moments, the kind of joy that patience and presence invite in family life. If you'd like more guidance on this journey, explore how patience, listening and joy can create a more peaceful routine.

The Gift of Safety, in Disguise

When kids feel free to express themselves through playful activities—drawing, movement, creativity—they begin to internalize a powerful lesson: my feelings are real, valid, and manageable. And from there, confidence starts to grow. They may still struggle with reading or dread math homework. But they’ll trust, more and more, that home is a place where their inner world can unfold safely and without judgment.

And that trust, over time, paves the way for resilience—not just academic resilience, but emotional security that lasts long after the school bell rings.

Want to nurture even more curiosity, confidence and emotional fluency? You might enjoy this piece on how to spark your child’s creativity through positive parenting.