Manage It Now:
The Quick Guide to Kids and Emotions
Children are emotional beings, navigating a world of feelings they’re still learning to understand.
As parents, caregivers, or educators, you play a key role in supporting their emotional growth.
This guide will help you address emotions effectively, teach emotional regulation, and foster resilience.
Understanding Emotions
What Is the aim?
Emotional regulation is the aim.
This is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage emotions effectively.
It’s not about suppressing feelings but responding to them in healthy ways.
Why Is it important to handle emotions?
Kids with emotional regulation skills are better equipped to handle challenges, build relationships, and navigate life’s ups and downs.
Without these skills, emotions like anger, frustration, and sadness can feel overwhelming and lead to negative behaviours.
Ages and Stages of Emotions
0–2 Years:
The Basics of Emotional Expression
Babies and toddlers express emotions through crying, laughing, or physical movements.
They’re highly reactive and rely entirely on caregivers to soothe them.
2–4 Years: Big Feelings
At this age, emotions can erupt without warning.
Tantrums are common as children struggle to communicate their feelings.
4–6 Years: Exploring Emotional Awareness
Preschoolers begin to identify basic emotions like happy, sad, or angry.
However, they still need help as they don’t know why why they feel a certain way.
6–10 Years: Developing Emotional Complexity
School-aged children start experiencing more nuanced emotions, like guilt, embarrassment, or jealousy.
They can also begin to discuss and process their feelings with support.
Tip: Set realistic expectations for your child’s emotional abilities based on their age and stage.
Common Feelings Kids Struggle With
Anger and Frustration: Often arise from unmet needs or boundaries.
Fear and Anxiety: Triggered by new experiences or uncertainty.
Sadness and Disappointment: Can feel overwhelming, especially after losses.
Overwhelm and Excitement: Big emotions can be difficult to handle, even when they’re positive.
Your Role: Supporting Kids Through Their Emotions
Validate Their Feelings
Acknowledge their emotions without judgment.
For example:
“I see you’re feeling really upset right now. That’s okay.”
Teach Strategies for Managing Emotions
Breathing Exercises: Deep breaths calm the nervous system.
Movement: Dancing, running, or stretching can help release pent-up energy.
Safe Space: Create a calm corner where they can regroup.
Model Healthy Emotional Management
Show them how you handle your own emotions. Narrate your process:
“I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths.”
Build Stability Through Routines
Predictable routines provide security, helping kids feel grounded. Examples:
Morning rituals
Consistent mealtimes
Bedtime wind-down routines
Emotional Literacy: Naming and Understanding Emotions
Why It’s Important to Label Emotions
Giving emotions names helps children process what they’re feeling and communicate it effectively. It helps them to become familiar with the feelings. This makes them less scary.
Teaching Emotional Literacy
Use simple words for younger kids: happy, sad, mad, scared.
For older kids, expand to nuanced terms: disappointed, nervous, excited.
Regularly name emotions in everyday life: “You seem frustrated—can you tell me why?”
Practical Ways to Help Kids Manage Emotions
Use Feeling Words Often: Incorporate them into daily conversations.
Calm Voice: Speak gently to de-escalate intense emotions.
Storytelling and Play: Role-play scenarios to teach emotional responses.
Feelings Journals: Encourage older kids to write about their emotions.
Ask Questions: “What made you feel this way?” or “What do you need right now?”
Building Emotional Resilience
What Is Emotional Resilience?
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and adapt to change.
We are not trying to prevent issues in life, the aim is to learn to manage them.
It is rooted in a growth mindset—the belief that mistakes and setbacks are opportunities to learn.
Strategies to Build Resilience
Foster a Safe Environment: Ensure your home feels like a haven where emotions are welcome.
Encourage Problem-Solving: Guide kids to think through solutions for future situations themselves.
Embrace Play: Play encourages creativity and stress relief.
Communication: The Key to Emotional Connection
Use “I Feel” Statements
Teach kids to express their emotions clearly:
“I feel upset because…”
Practice Active Listening
Listen without interrupting or jumping to solutions. Validate what they’re saying:
“That sounds really tough. I’m here to help.”
Navigate Conflicts Together
Work as a team to resolve disagreements, modeling calm and respectful communication.
Repair and Growth: Handling Big Emotions
Immediate Steps
Validate their feelings.
Name the emotion.
Offer comfort and security.
Later Steps
Encourage reflection: “What can we do differently next time?”
Identify triggers and strategize how to manage them.
Tip: Avoid shutting down emotions.
Saying things like “Stop crying” or “You’re fine” can teach kids to suppress their feelings.
Instead, encourage expression and problem-solving.
Final Thoughts
Helping kids navigate emotions isn’t about eliminating difficult feelings but empowering them to handle them.
By validating their experiences, teaching emotional regulation, and fostering resilience, you create a foundation for their emotional well-being.
Be patient with the process—kids learn by example. When you model empathy, communication, and self-care, they’ll follow suit.
Together, you can build a family culture that supports emotional growth and resilience for years to come.
This guide balances practical tips with developmental insight, making it approachable and actionable for your audience.
You may need to learn with your own emotions.
You may need assistance with this.
Message me for any help required or any questions.
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