Parenting Philosophy and Children's Development: The Role of Emotions

The way families express, talk about and react to emotions can have a significant impact on the next generation. As parents, the emotional climate they grew up with can become embedded in their parenting style. Psychologists call this “parental meta-emotion philosophy” – a parent’s organized set of thoughts and feelings about their and their child’s emotions. Understanding this concept can make a big difference in parenting and children’s development.

Parents who have learned to recognize and accept their feelings and view emotional displays as a time for connection and teaching are called emotion coaches. On the other hand, emotionally dismissive parents tend to ignore or deny feelings and avoid uncomfortable emotions. The ability to understand and manage emotions is crucial for child development, and studies have shown that emotion coaching philosophy positively affects children’s emotional regulation, behavior, and social skills.

Parenting education programs that focus on emotion-focused parenting, such as the Tuning in to Kids and the Emotional Development version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, are designed to help parents understand their feelings about feelings and support their children’s emotional needs. These programs teach specific parenting behaviors that enhance emotional development and maximize positive outcomes for families.

While there is strong evidence that emotion-focused parenting programs are effective, there is a need for tailored programs for specific populations, such as parents of children under two, and culturally appropriate programs that serve a diversity of caregivers, family structures, and backgrounds. Social determinants of health, such as culture, racialization, education, housing, and income, also influence the way families feel about feelings.

Moreover, psychology researchers suggest that helping parents understand their feelings about feelings can change children’s biology, leading to positive emotional changes that can be passed on across generations. Families with parents who understand their feelings about feelings can make a positive emotional impact now and possibly on future generations.

Disclaimer: This story is re-reported from the story originally published by News9 Live.