“Is my child emotionally okay?” This is an important and timely question. Scientific evidence consistently shows that emotional well-being in childhood is as critical as their cognitive development or physical growth. Emotional wellbeing or emotional health means the ability of a child to understand, express, and regulate emotions, form secure relationships, and cope with everyday stress.
A longitudinal study of 325 five-year-old children, published in the Journal of School Psychology (2007), found that strong emotion regulation skills were significantly associated with better academic performance, classroom productivity, and early literacy and maths scores, even after accounting for differences in IQ.
Early emotional difficulties such as persistent irritability, anxiety, poor emotional regulation, or social withdrawal can predict later challenges in mental health, academic performance, and peer relationships. Children often do not express emotional concerns in obvious ways and may present with:
Frequent emotional meltdowns
Excessive fears
Sleep disturbances
Somatic complaints such as stomach aches
Regression in previously acquired skills
A recent article published by Cambridge University Press (2024) states that children with persistent emotional problems from childhood into adolescence are at higher risk of adult depression, anxiety, self-harm, and functional impairments compared to those raised in positive, protective, and responsive early childhood environments. This highlights the importance of programs that focus on improving emotional health to prevent behavioural problems.
SUPPORTING CHILD’S EMOTIONAL WELL BEING
As a developmental paediatrician, I recommend practical, evidence-based ways to support a child’s emotional wellbeing. Emotional health does not develop automatically; it is shaped daily through the 3R’s — relationships, routines, and responses.
Help your child to label feelings, e.g. “I am frustrated,” “That made me sad”. Studies say that labelling emotions helps with emotional regulation and reduces behavioural outbursts by strengthening neural pathways between emotion and language centers.
A calm, empathetic response, e.g. “I see you’re upset,” before discipline helps the nervous system settle, making learning possible. Have predictable routines for sleep, meals, etc.
Maintaining predictable routines for sleep and meals reduces stress hormones and improves emotional stability, particularly in young children.
Encourage play, shared laughter, and daily one-to-one sessions to strengthen emotional security.
Children learn by watching adults; hence, adults must express emotions appropriately, e.g. “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m taking a deep breath.” This teaches coping skills more effectively than instruction alone.
Prioritising face-to-face interactions, storytelling, and shared activities and limiting excessive screen time is linked to poorer emotional regulation and attention.
Lastly, persistent irritability, withdrawal, anxiety, or regression are signals for professional guidance, and early support improves long-term emotional outcomes.
Emotional wellbeing isn’t about raising a child who is always happy; it’s about raising a child who feels safe to feel, express, and recover from emotions.
WHY EMOTIONAL WELLBEING MATTERS IN EDUCATION
From an education perspective, emotional wellbeing forms the foundation for effective learning. Children who feel emotionally secure are better able to focus, participate in classroom activities, build peer relationships, and cope with academic challenges. Research increasingly shows that social and emotional skills directly influence school readiness, attention span, classroom behaviour, and long-term academic outcomes.
For parents and educators alike, supporting a child’s emotional health is not separate from education, it is central to help children thrive academically and socially within school environments.
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Published On:
Jan 28, 2026
