Do We Dismiss Kids' Emotions Too Easily?

In this episode of The Greatness Together podcast, we're unpacking a difficult truth: we often take children's emotional outbursts less seriously than those of teens or adults. But what if their tears, tantrums, and silences are trying to tell us something deeper? Through Simonne's work at a women's shelter, we explore how children's emotional lives are more complex—and more important—than we give them credit for.   Quote of the Week:  "When a child cries, we ask them to be quiet. But maybe we should ask ourselves to listen."  Simonne McVanel   Greatness Together Podcast Highlights: Do we dismiss kids' emotions too easily? 0:00 Labelling psychological disorders. 2:00 Kids don't only cry for attention. 3:30 What are we missing? 6:00 Are we intolerant of emotions? 8:00 Being emotional isn't a weakness. 10:00 Teach your kids to lean into their feelings. 13:00 Next time: If work were a friend, would you stay? 16:24   How often do we write off a child's emotional expression as dramatic or attention-seeking? In this conversation, we question that instinct. Why do we minimize children's emotions when, in truth, they might be holding trauma, fear, or unmet needs they don't yet have words for? What if kids are more emotionally aware than we are—and we're just not listening?   We assume children's emotions are surface-level. What if they're not? When Simonne witnessed a young girl silently crying during a disagreement at the shelter, it wasn't the loud sobbing we often associate with children—it was quiet, restrained, and raw. That moment sparked a deeper reflection: Are we overlooking real pain because it's wrapped in the smallness of a child? Mental health research underrepresents children, and most therapeutic systems aren't designed with them in mind. Yet the emotional complexity is there. We just have to stop dismissing it.   We shut kids down—because we shut ourselves down. Most of us were taught to "suck it up," "don't cry," or "be brave." So, when kids express big feelings, it makes us uncomfortable. Instead of responding with curiosity, we label them as overreacting. But this discomfort says more about us than about them. Could our own emotional illiteracy be blocking our ability to support the next generation? Brene Brown has helped normalize emotional conversations, but what if we started these conversations when we were still kids? If you've ever told a child to "calm down" or felt unsure how to handle their emotions, this episode invites a reset. Let's relearn what we've forgotten—and recognize the wisdom children carry.   Did you like this episode? Then you'll probably also like this one on "Understanding the Generations: Are We More Alike Than Different?":     Greatness Together Podcast Links: How Do We Build Courage Curiosity? Greatness Magnified Subscribe to The Greatness Together Podcast