If you ask your child how their day was and they say:

“Fine.”

You’re not alone.

Most kids don’t automatically share what’s happening inside.
Not because they don’t feel deeply.

But because they don’t always have the words.

And when kids don’t have the words for their feelings…

Those feelings show up somewhere else.

Meltdowns.
Shutting down.
Big reactions over small things.
Silly behavior at the wrong time.

It’s not defiance.

It’s a vocabulary gap.

Emotional Skills Aren’t Automatic

We teach kids how to:

• Read
• Add
• Pack a backpack
• Tie their shoes

But we rarely teach them how to say:

“I felt embarrassed.”
“I felt left out.”
“I felt disappointed.”
“I felt proud.”

Emotional literacy is a skill.

And like any skill, it gets stronger with practice.

Why “Today I Feel…” Is So Powerful

There’s something simple but transformative about starting a sentence with:

“Today I feel…”

It gives your child:

• A structure
• A starting point
• A safe way in

It lowers the pressure.

They don’t have to explain everything.

They just have to name one feeling.

And that’s where growth begins.

What Happens When Kids Can Name Their Feelings

When a child can say:

“I felt nervous at recess.”

Instead of melting down at dinner…

Everything shifts.

Naming a feeling helps:

✔ Reduce emotional intensity
✔ Increase self-awareness
✔ Build regulation skills
✔ Strengthen parent-child connection

You’re not just “talking about feelings.”

You’re building brain pathways.

Why Evening Is the Best Time

Bedtime is often when:

• The house is quieter
• The rush is over
• Emotions surface

Instead of pushing through the routine, try pausing.

Ask:

“Today I feel…”

Then let them finish it.

You might be surprised what comes out.

How to Make It Easy (Even If You’re Tired)

You don’t need a therapy session.

You don’t need a long conversation.

You need structure.

That’s why I created Today I Feel… 20 Emotional Prompts — simple, guided pages that help kids reflect on their day in a gentle, doable way.

Each page:

• Starts with “Today I feel…”
• Offers guided prompts
• Includes space to draw or write
• Expands emotional vocabulary

It takes five minutes.

But those five minutes build something lasting.

If Your Child Struggles With Big Emotions…

Start small.

Not with lectures.

Not with consequences.

Start with language.

One sentence at a time.

“Today I feel…”

That tiny shift can open doors you didn’t even realize were closed.

Tonight’s Tiny Step

Before bed, try it.

Sit beside your child and say:

“Today I feel…”

Let them finish it.

No correcting.
No fixing.
Just listening.

And if you want a little support in guiding those conversations, you can grab the

Today I Feel… 20 Emotional Prompts printable set to help you start.

Because emotional strength isn’t built in big dramatic moments.

It’s built in quiet, consistent ones.

Small prompts.
Big resilience. 💛