How Stories and Poems Help Children Understand and Express Their Emotions

Now think of this: instead of feeling hopeless, the student opens a book and discovers a poem or a story that reflects their feelings. Their unknown emotion has an identity, and they can recognise it. Stories and poems help children recognise and express emotions, making it easier to understand their feelings. 

When children and adults see their emotions mirrored in stories or poems, they feel less alone, learn to process their feelings in a healthy way and develop the confidence to talk about them. This emotional awareness builds resilience, reduces stress, and strengthens well-being.

Why Stories and Poetry Matter for Children’s Well-Being

Poetry and storytelling are scientifically shown to help with emotional processing, stress reduction, and empathy development. They help children understand complex emotions, develop coping skills, and discover joy in self-expression. 

Let’s look at how stories and poems can promote wellness, help youngsters understand their emotions, and give them the confidence to navigate the world.

The Power of Stories

When children read a story, their minds are actively processing emotions, imagining scenarios, and making connections between the characters’ experiences and their own feelings. 

As they follow the story, their brain releases oxytocin, the hormone responsible for empathy and emotional bonding. This helps them relate to the characters and understand different perspectives. 

They begin to recognise emotions, both their own and others and develop the vocabulary to express what they feel. This process strengthens their emotional intelligence, making it easier for them to navigate real-life situations confidently. Through storytelling, children build resilience, learn coping strategies, and gain a sense of comfort, all of which contribute to their overall emotional well-being.

Timeless Stories That Nurture Emotional Well-Being

For example, Indian folktales like the Tenali Raman Stories and the Akbar and Birbal Stories teach children problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and resilience through humour and wisdom. Panchatantra Tales use animal characters to illustrate emotions like jealousy, kindness, and greed, helping children understand and express complex feelings. 

The Magic of Poems

When a child listens to or reads a poem, their brain processes rhythm, language and emotions simultaneously. Research shows that rhythmic patterns in poetry, music, and speech activate auditory and motor regions, improving memory and language skills. Repetition in rhymes strengthens phonological awareness, which is essential for literacy development.

Poetry also aids emotional regulation. Structured verse engages the brain’s limbic system, which processes emotions, making poetry a comforting and effective tool for self-expression. It aids in mindfulness, helping children navigate stress and emotions, as highlighted in The Journal of Poetry Therapy. 

Poems That Nurture Emotional Growth

Poems like Kabir’s Dohe teach wisdom, Sukumar Ray’s Abol Tabol spark the imagination, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Swing captures childhood joy. These poems are easily accessible in libraries, bookstores, and online archives, making poetry a powerful tool for emotional growth.

Classroom Activities for Well-Being Through Stories and Poems

We’ve explored how stories and poems help children process emotions, build resilience, and develop empathy. Now, let’s look at creative and engaging activities teachers can use to make these benefits more impactful.

1. Emotion Walks

Read a poem or story aloud and have children slowly walk around the room. As they move, call out different emotions—joy, fear, excitement, sadness—and ask them to change their posture, speed, or movements to match the feeling. This helps them physically connect with emotions and understand how they manifest in the body.

2. Mirror Poetry

Give children half-written poems where only one side of a comparison is provided. For example:
“The sky is as heavy as…”
“Happiness feels like…”
They fill in the blanks with their own thoughts, making them reflect on emotions and express them in their own words.

3. Story Sculpting

Instead of retelling a story verbally, have kids “sculpt” key scenes using clay, paper, or even their bodies in small groups. As they shape a character or moment, they discuss the emotions behind it, reinforcing emotional awareness.

How Parents and Teachers Can Use Stories and Poems for Kids’ Well-Being

If a child is upset, instead of asking, “What’s wrong?” try, “This reminds me of a story…” and watch how their guard lowers. A well-timed tale about a brave rabbit or a lost but determined firefly can help them see their emotions from a new perspective.

Reading a relaxing poem together before bedtime can transform unrest into peace. Encouraging children to compose their own short stories or poems provides them with a secure space to communicate what they are unable to say out loud. Even something as simple as acting out a character’s emotions or making a “feelings jar” in which they drop words that fit their mood and then transform them into a poem can have a significant effect.  

Small, creative moments like these help children understand, express, and manage emotions in natural and engaging ways.

Conclusion

The right story or poem can shape a child’s emotions, mindset, and approach to self-care. A well-chosen book can build emotional resilience, encourage problem-solving, and offer life lessons in a way that no lecture ever could.

If you are a parent or teacher, you should use the cheat code—the magic of literature—in your wellness lessons. A good book can help you impart wisdom that might not be otherwise possible. So let’s get started and pick a book! Wellbeing books can make learning fun and engaging for children, one story, one poem at a time.

Looking for the perfect book to begin this journey? Viva Education’s “Wellness Wonders” series is designed to nurture emotional and cognitive skills in young learners through engaging stories and activities. Explore the series and bring the magic of literature into your child’s life!