25 May Why Body Cues Come Before Emotions
For many children, understanding emotions can feel confusing and overwhelming. As adults, we often ask children questions like “How are you feeling?” or encourage them to label emotions such as anxious, frustrated, excited, or angry. While this is well intended, emotions are actually quite abstract concepts, especially for children. The meaning of an emotion word can vary greatly depending on the person using it, their experiences, and their understanding of emotions.
This is why, in paediatric occupational therapy, we often focus on teaching body cues first. Body cues are the physical sensations we experience in our bodies before we can fully identify or describe an emotion. These cues are concrete, observable, and easier for children to recognise. For example, a child may notice their heart beating fast, sweaty hands, tight muscles, shaky legs, butterflies in their stomach, or feeling heavy and tired.
The Kelly Mahler interoception approach highlights that body awareness is the foundation of emotional regulation. Interoception refers to our ability to notice and understand signals coming from inside the body. Before children can successfully identify or regulate emotions, they first need support recognising what their body is telling them.
By learning to notice physical sensations first, children begin developing self-awareness. Over time, they can start connecting these body experiences to emotional states and understand what their body may be communicating. This process also helps children recognise their needs earlier, allowing them to use supports and strategies before emotions become overwhelming.
Strategies to Build Body Cue Awareness
1. Body Check-Ins Throughout the Day
Rather than asking “How do you feel?”, ask concrete questions such as:
- “What is your body doing right now?”
- “Is your heart fast or slow?”
- “Do your muscles feel tight or floppy?”
This helps children focus on observable body sensations rather than abstract emotional labels.
2. Explore Body Changes During Activities
Use movement activities to help children notice changes in their body. For example, after jumping, running, or spinning, ask:
- “What happened to your breathing?”
- “Can you feel your heartbeat?”
- “Do your legs feel wobbly or strong?”
This builds awareness that body sensations change throughout the day.
3. Use Visual Supports and Body Maps
Drawing body outlines or using visuals can help children identify where they feel sensations in their body. Children may colour areas where they feel tightness, warmth, butterflies, or heaviness. This makes internal sensations more concrete and easier to communicate.
Teaching body cues before emotions creates a stronger foundation for emotional understanding, regulation, communication, and self-awareness, helping children feel safer, more confident, and more connected to themselves and others.