[El Sollman]

Some of the best ways are to help them identify their feelings in the moment when they are feeling them. We also have many books on feelings and calming down techniques.

[Lauren]

Letting the child explain what made them feel upset or angry is a good start to help them relax. Acknowledging their feelings lets them know that it is normal to feel that way and that they are human and have feelings just like their friends, family, and teacher do. Show them exercises/healthy practices to handle those emotions such as sit in a quiet spot away from others with a book or maybe even a fidget toy. Teach them how to redirect their emotions to something hands-on that they can practice doing when they are upset. Acknowledging their emotions and helping the child through them is the key to the child trusting you and letting them know that they can come to you for help when they need it.

[Maria]

The best way to help children recognize their emotions and control their reactions is to calm a child down, then understand the child why he/she feels this emotion and discuss it with the child about that.

[Jamie]

What are some ways that you can calm them down?

[Haley]

Allowing the child to express his/her emotions is very important. Validating and listening can also be helpful by showing the child you understand how they feel. When they feel overwhelmed you can show them how to take deep breaths or how to find a quiet spot to read a book and have some alone time before rejoining their classmates.

[Jailee]

A good way to help children recognize their emotions is to talk about them and how they’re feeling. Its important to let them know that it is ok to feel their emotions, and talking through what those emotions are can help them processes them. Such as through asking questions like “What are you feeling?” and “Why do you feel that way.” Can help them learn the cause and effect of actions and how they impact themselves and others.

[Jamie]

Be sure that young children are at a stage where they are capable of the advanced conversation that you are asking them to explain. Emotions are difficult to pinpoint and describe for little people. Observations and role playing are effective methods.

[Alyssa]

I think some of the best ways to help children recognize their emotions and control their responses would be listening to them and encouraging them to discuss their feelings and needs, as well as displaying it for them yourself. Acting out certain feelings or desires can help show the children healthy ways to cope, understand or respond.

[Hadiya Al-Shishani]

It can be challenging for a child to identify what they are feeling and are more likely able to describe what happened that made them feel the way they are. This is why communication and self expression are very important when learning about emotions. Let a child speak when they are feeling big emotions and listen to what they have to say. Help describe what emotions could be connected to what they are feeling/ showing. I love feeling charts and books about feelings, they help give memorable examples of emotions. Once you can identify emotions, you can work toward strategies for maintaining them.

[Meghan]

Active listening and naming the emotions they are feeling

[Maya]

When a child is angry and stomping their feet you can tell them you were stomping your feet it looks like you were angry. Are you angry? They may not understand what angry means but if you tell them you’re stomping your feet which shows me that you were angry overtime it will tell them that this is the emotion for angry. If the child is crying you can tell the child I see there are tears you look sad are you sad? That will tell the child that that emotion they are having is sad. To help children regulate emotions is by telling them what the feeling is telling them it is OK to have that feeling and that we will get through it together. It might be taking some deep breaths it might be going on a walk it might be doing something else to take their mind off of it. Or ask if they want a hug.

[Kiley Kaye]

To help children recognize their emotions, you can approach them when they are frustrated/angry in the moment, and describe to them what you are seeing that leads you to believe they are frustrated/angry. You can follow this with trying to figure out what upset them, and then move on to trying some self soothing techniques, while offering your guidance. You can have them practice deep breathing, counting to a number, or backward from a number if developmentally appropriate. My favorite way to self soothe is to listen to my favorite music or watch a small clip about a cute animal. I can offer music listening to the child if they think it would help them, and teach them some of the techniques I use personally when doing so myself. For example, I enjoy doing a few small movements along with the song, but other times I prefer to be totally still with my eyes closed just absorbing things. I can teach the child both of these options and then allow them to choose what they need in the moment.

[maria]

I have found narrating and labeling the child’s emotions is best in regulating and centering the child. After the child knows why they are emotional then they can work through their reactions to that emotion in a safe space.

[HK]

First, I think we get to their eye level and ask them to explain to us what is going on. Children need to feel like they are been heard and acknowledge. If they do not have words to describe their emotions, we can ask them to point at the feeling chart in the classroom. We could also describe what we see to them: I can tell you are angry because you are yelling at your friends and stumping your feet….let’s take a few deep breaths, and then I will be ready to listen to what you have to say.” We can also ask them if they prefer to be alone in a safe place to calm down. When they are ready, help the child to come up with solutions, solve it and move on.

[Amber]

You can put a name to the emotion a child is feeling, ie, “I see you’re feeling angry.” and then asking if they can tell you why, asking if they want a hug, etc.

[Brienne]

Use a feeling chart, emotional thermometer, do a body check how does there body language look, provide exercise, role play, practice deep breathes.

[melissa]

Speak to the child face to face and help them open up. Kids are barley learning how to communicate so we should help them.