Big Feelings, Brave Girls: Why Emotional Safety Matters

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught to smile through discomfort, to stay quiet when something felt unfair, or to be "the good girl" — calm, agreeable, pleasant. These messages were often passed down without malice. They were the waters our parents swam in, too. But the cost of not feeling, or not being allowed to feel, is steep — and it starts young.

Today, in a world where girls are growing up faster than ever, it’s more important than ever to make space for their inner world. The messy, big, sometimes inconvenient world of emotions. Because when we teach girls that their feelings matter, we’re not raising emotional girls — we’re raising emotionally intelligent, resilient, and deeply connected women.

The Disconnection Starts Early

By age seven, many girls have already begun to pick up subtle cues about which emotions are acceptable to show. Anger, for example, might be met with correction. Sadness might be quickly soothed away before it has time to be understood. Fear might be dismissed with “you’re ok” instead of explored with curiosity.

When this happens again and again, girls can begin to doubt their own emotional compass. They might learn to hide what they really feel to fit in, avoid being "too much," or keep others comfortable. The result? A disconnection from their body, their instincts, and their truth.

Emotions Are Messages, Not Mistakes

At the heart of emotional wellbeing is the ability to notice, name, and express feelings. Emotions are not problems to fix. They let us know when something feels good, safe, exciting… and when something feels scary, wrong, or out of alignment.

If we rush to fix, quiet, or redirect a girl’s emotional experience, we rob her of the chance to develop one of her greatest tools: emotional literacy. When a girl learns she can sit with a feeling without needing to push it away or act on it immediately, she learns presence. She learns boundaries. She learns empathy — first for herself, and then for others.

The Gift of Feeling Seen

When a girl is met with presence — when an adult kneels down, looks her in the eye, and says, "That sounds really hard. Do you want to tell me more?" — something powerful happens. She feels seen. She begins to trust that her inner world is not too much. She starts to believe that her voice, even if wobbly or angry or unsure, matters.

This is not about fixing every problem or making life easier for her. It’s about strengthening her sense of self. A girl who believes her feelings are valid is a girl who will speak up when something’s not right. She’ll reach out when she needs help. She’ll grow into a woman who trusts herself.

It Starts With Us

If we want girls to feel, we must first create spaces where that’s allowed — and model that emotional openness ourselves. That means making room for their big feelings without rushing to distract or redirect. It means offering gentle guidance without judgment. It means remembering that tears are not weakness, and anger is not misbehaviour — they are simply expressions of a deeper need.

As parents, caregivers, mentors, and educators, we hold the privilege of shaping a generation who knows that emotions are not something to hide or suppress, but something to understand and honour. When we give girls permission to feel, we give them the foundation for a life built on authenticity, compassion, and strength.

And isn’t that the kind of woman we want her to become?

If this message resonates with you, and you’re looking for a space where your daughter can safely explore her emotions, build confidence, and connect with others her age, we’ve created a beautiful fortnightly program designed especially for girls aged 7–9. It’s playful, gentle, and grounded in emotional learning — just as it should be.

Call Elke for more information about the upcoming program or click on this link to book a spot

https://www.trybooking.com/DEDG