(And Why It’s a Big Part of STEM Learning)

When your toddler throws a tantrum, cries out of frustration, or even clams up when they’re overwhelmed, it can be tough to know how to help. But these big emotions are not only normal—they’re a key part of your child’s early development. And surprisingly, supporting emotional expression can actually strengthen your child’s STEM skills, too.

At Surprise Powerz, we know that helping girls ages 2 to 8 express their feelings sets the stage for confident, curious STEM learning. Our dolls combine STEM with social-emotional learning (SEL) to show girls that being smart means being emotionally strong, too.

Why Emotional Expression Matters

Social-emotional learning is all about helping kids understand themselves and others. When children know how to identify and express their feelings—whether it’s joy, confusion, frustration, or pride—they build:

• Confidence to ask questions
  

• Resilience to keep trying when something is hard
  

• Communication skills to work with others
  

All of these are essential in STEM, where teamwork, trial and error, and asking “why” are part of the process.

5 Ways to Help Your Child Express Emotions:

1. Name the Feeling

Young children often feel before they can explain. Use simple language to help them label emotions:

• “You seem frustrated.”
  

• “I see you’re excited!”
  

• “It’s okay to feel nervous.”
  Giving words to feelings helps kids better understand and express them in healthy ways.
  

2. Model Your Own Emotions

You are your child’s first teacher. Saying things like, “I’m feeling a little tired, so I need a break,” or “I’m proud of how I solved that problem,” shows her how emotions work in real life—and that even grown-ups feel big things, too.

3. Use STEM Dolls to Explore Emotions Through Play

Surprise Powerz dolls like Vera the Vet® and Astro the Astronaut™ talk about both STEM and feelings. They say things like:

• “I can try again!”
  

• “I’m feeling curious!”
  

• “I made a mistake, and that’s okay!”
  These phrases help girls build emotional intelligence through pretend play, and give parents a natural way to start conversations.
  

4. Create a Safe Space for Feelings

Let your child know that all feelings are okay. Whether she’s sad because her block tower fell or nervous about a new game, acknowledge her emotions and support her through them. Then, talk about what helped her feel better—this reflection builds self-awareness and problem-solving.

5. Connect Feelings to STEM Moments

Help your child notice emotions during learning:

• “You looked really proud when you figured that out!”
  

• “That experiment surprised you—what did you notice?”
  

• “It’s normal to feel frustrated when something doesn’t work the first time.”
  By linking feelings to discovery, you reinforce a mindset that makes STEM both exciting and emotionally safe.
  

What This Teaches Girls About Themselves

Girls who are taught to express and manage their emotions from a young age are more likely to:
✅ Take healthy risks
✅ Stay engaged with challenging tasks
✅ Work well in groups
✅ Feel proud of their curiosity

At Surprise Powerz, we believe that raising future engineers, doctors, astronauts, and leaders starts with helping girls say what they feel—and feel proud of who they are.

🔗 Explore our STEM + SEL Dolls Codie the Coder®, Vera the Vet®, Astro the Astronaut®, and Maria the Mathemagician®, That Talk About Emotions and Curiosity

🔗Download Our Free Early STEM Activity Guide