Validating Young People's Feelings

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"Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors." — Fred Rogers

What can we as caring adults do to validate a young person's emotions? Practicing active listening is a great start! Oftentimes, when a child shares a problem or challenge, our first reaction is to immediately solve the problem for them. Taking a step back, actively listening and asking questions will help youth think about their situation and how they might take steps to work through it on their own. Helping young people lean into their emotions and think through ways to approach challenges leads to stronger resiliency, a skill critical to navigating life's ups and downs!

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What else can we do to validate young people's emotions?

• Acknowledge and normalize feelings
• Encourage expression
• Show empathy
• Share encouragement

Check out Mental Health National to learn more ways to validate a young person's feelings.