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Big Emotions Tips

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Fernanda Izaguirre
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145 views7 pages

Big Emotions Tips

Uploaded by

Fernanda Izaguirre
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Big Emotions Toolkit

Teach your child these


Emotional Regulation Strategies
and bring calm back to your home

THEPARENTINGCAMPUS.COM
2

The Big Emotions Toolkit introduces


strategies to de-escalate the
stressful situation. This is where you
come in mom and dad! The
activities and strategies are
designed for you and your child to
do together. Share these activities
with your child before they need
Does your child express their them! Children respond better, and
frustrations by yelling, hitting are more able to communicate their
others or throwing objects? Do feelings in times of calm. Your child
they shut down or isolate will then be prepared for the
themselves from others? If any of activities when their emotional
this sounds like your child they regulation is challenged and will be
likely lack the skills associated with much more successful developing
emotional regulation. When your these skills with you in their corner!
child is dysregulated they may
unintentionally damage important This toolkit is a starting point for
relationships with friends and you to explore emotional regulation
family. Rest assured; this is not and learn the skills your child needs
your child's intended outcome, but to develop and better regulate their
their big emotions are a sign that emotions. The more you understand
they need help learning emotional and recognize what strategies do,
regulation skills. and do not, work for your child the
more likely they are to choose to
Emotional regulation is the ability use the right strategy in times of
to manage emotions, thoughts, and high emotion. Try each of these
behaviors in ways that are socially ideas together, journal your
acceptable and produce positive thoughts and the results directly in
results. Personal well-being, strong the booklet so you'll know what
relationships, and connection works for your child next time!
come when children gain emotional
regulation skills. Managing these
emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
in a socially acceptable manner is,
in fact, a huge ask of a child who
has yet to learn to regulate their
emotions.

theparentingcampus.com
3

LEARN TO CHILL
Kids who are anxious are often so tense throughout the day that they don’t
recognize what being relaxed feels like. Help them distinguish between these
feelings by having them tense up all the muscles they can and hold it for 5-10
seconds. Then ask them to relax all of their muscles starting from the top of
their head to the tips of their toes. Do the process again. They can begin to
“cue” this relaxed state at the first sign of the muscle tension that
accompanies their big feelings.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

NAMASTE N' STRETCH


Yoga and stretching are closely linked to mindfulness. Teaching your child to
slow their mind down will support their emotional regulation development.
Studies have proven that children who take part in yoga or stretching
significantly improve their ability to regulate emotions and also increase their
self-esteem.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

theparentingcampus.com
4

BREATHE BABY, BREATHE


When your child is struggling with big emotions one of the most powerful
strategies you can teach them is to take a breathing break. Deep, slow
breathing decreases the heart rate and calms anxiety. Take a 4 count breath
in, hold for 2 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat for one minute.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

CHANGE YOUR TONE!


Help your child change the personal narrative they use. When your child is in
the "I can't" mindset remind them that "you can do hard things". When they
say "I can't", teach them to add the word "yet". "I can't tie my shoes!",
becomes, "I can't tie my shoes, yet!" Remember to role model this behavior by
saying it often and out loud yourself.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

theparentingcampus.com
5

UNPLUG
Take their hand, and leave your phones behind! Plan for at least 30 minutes of
one-on-one (unplugged) time. Head out to a local walking trail to reconnect
with your child in nature. Walking is the perfect time to talk about big feelings.
Walking allows for the important conversations to happen, but does not
require face-to-face eye contact to achieve it.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

A BITE TO EAT
This simple, but often overlooked strategy is a game changer for many kids. It
is unlikely for a child to remain dysregulated when they are eating. When big
emotions are emerging quickly suggest that you prepare a healthy snack
together that you can both enjoy. Not only does eating help to regulate but
great conversation can happen in the kitchen!

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

theparentingcampus.com
6

GET HEAVY
Gentle pressure provided by a weighted object (stuffed animal or lap band)
can help to calm a child by activating their parasympathetic nervous system,
which lowers heart rate when stressed. A weighted object uses “pressure
therapy”, a calm-inducing amount of pressure on your body, similar to the
feeling of being hugged, swaddled, stroked, or held.

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING!


Physical movement is a fantastic way to de-escalate children when they are
heightened. Put a favorite upbeat song on and dance the big emotions away! It
is very hard to be upset or dysregulated when you are having so much fun!

Did this strategy work? Y/N

Next time we will:

theparentingcampus.com
THANK YOU!
It was a pleasure creating this toolkit for
you and your child. I know from 25 years of
professional experience as an educator and
school Principal, and parenting my own
daughters, how important it is to have a
toolkit of strategies to support children
who struggle with big emotions.

Take the time to try these activities with your


child and decide which works best for you
both, and which you may tweak to better fit
your own family dynamic.

Developing emotional regulation strategies is a


long term investment in your child's social,
emotional and academic success. Supporting
them to build this foundation will lead to a
happier child and a happier family!

Are you ready to carry on the conversation?


Join us on Facebook!
The Big Emotions Playbook Facebook Group
was created to share strategies, tips and tools for parents to
support their child's emotional regulation development.

THE BIG EMOTIONS


k
Clicre! PLAYBOOK
he FACEBOOK GROUP

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