As children navigate an ever-changing world, their natural curiosity often leads them to ask challenging questions about their emotions, health, and experiences. Experts emphasize that even when young children struggle to articulate their feelings, they are frequently aware of shifts in their environment and can be deeply affected by them.
Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Wan Asyikin Wan Azlan notes that children are perceptive and may register changes in parental moods, family routines, or the overall atmosphere at home. When unable to express their emotions verbally, these feelings may instead come out through behaviors such as tantrums, withdrawal, anger, or silence. She underscores the importance of developing emotional literacy early on, helping children identify and name their emotions as a crucial step toward emotional regulation.
Paediatrician Dr. Sanjay Woodhull further explains that unexpressed emotional stress in children can manifest physically, causing symptoms like sleep disturbances, appetite changes, stomachaches, or headaches. He advocates for fostering open dialogue from a young age, which helps children gradually build the vocabulary and confidence needed to communicate their experiences. This also enables caregivers to better understand their children’s needs and detect potential issues earlier.
Supporting children’s questions with serious, age-appropriate answers, Dr. Woodhull advises, encourages greater understanding and cooperation. He cautions against either overwhelming children with too much information or oversimplifying complex health topics. Instead, he recommends introducing information at a pace suited to the child’s maturity and allowing their questions to guide the discussion. The ultimate aim is to leave children feeling informed and reassured rather than confused or anxious.
Addressing these challenges, a new children’s book titled The Nurts Tales: Growing Strong, Inside And Out was launched in August in Subang Jaya, Selangor. Created by The Nurts, an organisation focused on lifelong learning and personal growth, in partnership with a private hospital, the book comprises five illustrated stories covering themes such as emotions, healthy habits, nutrition, body safety, and understanding illness. The narratives use relatable characters and everyday situations to introduce complex topics and provide parents with natural entry points for further conversations.
Dr. Wan highlights how storytelling creates a less intimidating way for children to explore emotions by inviting them to relate to characters and reflect on their feelings and motivations. Adrian Tan, author and co-founder of The Nurts, draws on personal experience for some stories, including one inspired by his own childhood feelings following his father’s cancer diagnosis. This story emphasizes that children can offer support without bearing responsibility for fixing difficult situations.
Tan explains that framing these stories in familiar, child-friendly settings—such as playing at the beach or attending a fair—and focusing on understanding rather than blame helps children stay receptive to the messages. He hopes the book will encourage families to normalise curiosity and open dialogue, even around uncomfortable subjects. Tan also reassures parents that it is acceptable to not have all the answers, noting that saying “I don’t know, let’s find out together” can be an invaluable lesson for children, fostering lifelong self-learning and growth.