Convos With Kids: Brad Guzan and Feelings

Building resilience is an ongoing journey that starts with learning how to identify, express and cope with emotions. This is important for everyone, even professional athletes. Early in his soccer career, Atlanta United Goalkeeper Brad Guzan kept his feelings bottled up. Now, the father-of-four has not only learned the importance of sharing his feelings and coping with them in healthy ways, but he’s also passionate about teaching kids to do the same. Watch Brad’s story and listen in on his heartfelt conversations with kids about feelings.

Meet Brad, our Convos With Kids host

At the beginning of his soccer career, Brad was warned not to share what he felt. “If you talk about [emotions], the coach may not like it,” he was told. “You might not get playing time.” So, he kept his feelings to himself. But over time, Brad began to cope with his feelings in healthier ways. He learned how to talk openly with his coaches about his emotions, and he found support.

Today, Brad and his wife are intentional about teaching their four kids a different message: All emotions are normal and OK.

“We want them to know it’s not just normal but healthy to talk about how they’re feeling,” said Brad. "Our goal is to give them the tools to recognize, express and manage their emotions, without shame or fear.”

To Brad, making sure his kids know it’s OK to feel any and all feelings makes all the difference.

Go beyond the pitch with Brad as he shares what resilience means to him, why it’s important to open up about our emotions and how he’s helping his kids navigate their own feelings, too.

Brad's Convos With Kids

Resilient kids are better able to handle life’s ups and downs. Some of the most important building blocks of resilience include teaching kids how to identify, express and cope with their feelings. Why are these so important?

When we teach kids a variety of feeling words, we give them the language they need to better understand their emotions and express themselves and their needs more clearly.
If we don’t express our feelings in healthy ways, they’ll come to the surface one way or another—and often not in the way, time or place we want. That’s why it's important to teach kids to express themselves effectively.
We’re not born knowing how to cope—it’s something we need to teach kids how to do and help them practice.

Watch Brad’s meaningful conversations with kids to learn what they want us grown-ups to know about feelings.