What Are Primary Emotions and Why They Matter for Kids’ Emotional Development

If you’ve seen (or even heard of) the movie Inside Out, you have probably noted the characters that represent our primary emotions. But what are primary emotions, and why are they important for children’s emotional development? These are six main emotions that every human, across all cultures, experiences from birth.

What Are Primary Emotions?

The six primary emotions are:

• happiness

• fear

• sadness

• disgust

• surprise

• anger

Why Understanding Emotions Matters for Kids

In my psychology classes, we explored how babies show these primary emotions universally. Whether it’s widening their eyes in surprise or curling their lip in disgust, babies express emotions similarly across cultures. Teaching children emotional intelligence is crucial for their development, helping them understand and manage these feelings.

How Our Bilingual Books, I Want A Popsicle!, Help Families

At The Mindful Peach, we believe it is important for parents and caregivers to understand these emotions and help children experience them without judgment. This is why we created our bilingual children’s book series, Eden’s Big Feelings, which is designed to guide families through recognizing, labeling, and managing emotions in a positive way.