Mirroring Children’s Emotions: How Emotional Reflection Builds Connection and Calm

When your child is overwhelmed by emotions, logic won’t help. In this post, Dr. Dave Schramm explains how ‘holding up an emotional mirror’—reflecting back what your child is feeling—validates their experience and soothes their nervous system. Backed by expert insights from Gottman and others, he shows how empathy and emotional labeling become the foundation for connection, calm, and emotional intelligence.