Being able to tell if a person is upset, angry, or playful is an important lifelong skill that shapes our ability to navigate the world. This is referred to as “emotional literacy” and it is defined as the ability to recognize, understand, and express emotions in a healthy way. It isn’t always easy for children to completely understand every emotion that they come across. For children with autism, developing emotional literacy can be even more challenging due to differences in social communication and sensory processing. This is something that we can help your child with at Monarch House. With the right strategies, we can work together with you, and your child’s caregivers and educators to improve your child’s emotional awareness and self-regulation. 

Here are ten of the ways that we use to help  teach emotional literacy to children with autism in Mississauga.

1. Use Visual Supports

Do you find that you can learn more from a simple picture than you can from being told how to do something directly? Many children with autism are visual learners. We can help them associate facial expressions and body language with different emotions through emotion charts, pictographs, and picture-based emotion cards. At Monarch House, we find that visual schedules can also help children anticipate emotional experiences and prepare for transitions.

2. Model Emotional Expression

You can learn a lot from someone else just by following suit. Kids learn in the same way. Children with autism benefit from direct modelling of emotions. We work with parents, caregivers and educators to teach them how to openly express their feelings using clear facial expressions and body language. One of the things that we do is label emotions in real-time (e.g., “I feel happy because you gave me a hug”). This reinforces understanding.

3. Teach Emotion Vocabulary

Are you elated? Feeling a bit jealous? Maybe apprehensive? It’s possible to expand your child’s emotional vocabulary by introducing words that describe different emotions beyond just “happy” or “sad.” At Monarch House, we use books, games, and real-life examples to help children learn and practice these words in various contexts.

4. Use Social Stories and Scripts

A little role play can go a long way towards expanding your emotional literacy. At Monarch House, one of the ways that we do this is through social stories and scripted dialogue. This helps children with autism navigate emotional situations. Through scripts and cue cards we can provide concrete examples of how to respond to emotions appropriately. This helps your child develop coping skills and social confidence.

5. Practice Identifying Emotions in Others

You can tell if a dog is happy because it will be wagging its tail. With humans, usually the cue is that they are smiling. There are other ways to interpret emotion in others too, and at Monarch House, we can help your child learn ways to successfully read people. One way that we do this is by encouraging children to observe and identify emotions in others by using videos, pictures, or real-life interactions. We’ll ask questions like “How do you think he feels?” or “What do you notice about her face?” which can improve their ability to read social cues.

6. Incorporate Play-Based Learning

There are unstructured, fun ways to learn how to read emotions as well. Play is a powerful way to teach emotional literacy. At Monarch House we use open-ended free time, role-playing, puppets, and interactive games allow children to explore different emotions in a fun and safe environment. One technique we use is bringing in toys and characters to act out emotions. This can make learning engaging.

7. Provide Sensory Strategies For Self-Regulation

It’s hard to tell what someone else is trying to express to you when you are incredibly uncomfortable yourself. Many children with autism experience sensory sensitivities that affect their emotions. At Monarch House, one of the things that we do is teach self-regulation techniques such as deep breathing, using fidget tools, or engaging in sensory-friendly activities. These can work to help children manage their emotions effectively.

8. Encourage Emotional Expression Through Art and Music

Sometimes a drawing is the best way to articulate your feelings. At Monarch House, we encourage creative activities like sketching, painting, and music to understand what is going on inside. These pastimes allow children to express emotions in nonverbal ways. Encouraging children to create artwork based on how they feel can help them process and communicate emotions more easily.

9. Reinforce Positive Social Interactions

Does your child have an older sibling that they can learn off? At Monarch House, we try to pair the younger kids up with the older kids. Encouraging positive social experiences with peers can strengthen emotional literacy skills. Structured peer interactions, group activities, and guided play can help children practice recognizing and responding to emotions in social settings.

10. Teach Coping Skills and Problem-Solving Strategies

Sometimes you just need your own little sanctuary. At Monarch House, we work with children to develop coping strategies, such as using a calming corner, deep breathing exercises, or asking for help. These techniques can empower them to regulate their emotions. Teaching problem-solving techniques, like taking turns or using “I feel” statements, supports emotional growth and social success.

Everything will seem like a poker face to your child if they are not properly equipped to discern the subtleties between different emotions. We can bring some clarity and understanding to social interactions by working with your child to be more emotionally literate. By incorporating the ten strategies we outline above, we can work with caregivers, parents, and educators to foster the essential skills for self-awareness, communication, and social interactions. At Monarch House we have a professional, interdisciplinary staff of occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, psychotherapists, and speech pathologists that are here to help. We’ve done this thousands of times. Emotional literacy is a lifelong journey, but with patience and consistency, your child, and other children with autism in Mississauga can build the tools they need to navigate their feelings effectively.