Mind-minded comments – helping your baby to recognise their emotions

Make mind-minded comments, as you and your baby go about your daily routine notice and comment about how they are feeling.  

For example, if they cry when a visitor leaves you could comment, “Oh, you are feeling sad because Grandma had to go. Let’s wave to Grandma then go and have a cuddle and a story.” Your baby might not understand all the words you say but naming their feelings in this way will help them to begin to recognise how they feel.  

In the future, this recognition of their emotions will support them to regulate their emotions and also to understand and empathise with other people. This will take time and lots of experience, but being sensitive to, accurately recognising and naming your baby’s emotions will support them to develop these skills.