[Danielle]

Recognizing different feeling and response when children are not in the
moment of their feelings and response. Help them have the correct tools to work
through their emotions. Pretend role play some difficult times and have the
children work you through it. Give them choices of which tool they would like
to use in order to regulate themselves. Make sure they know what they can do don’t
put what they cannot do in front of them as it causes confusion. Have visual
aids of feeling and tools. Possibly provide physical tools that children can
use on their own of they need space.

[Fowsiya Abdulaziz]

Using a feeling chart can help children identify their emotions. It’s also important to be consistent when using a chart or having them engage in an activity to continue with practice.

[Palwasha Mailan]

To help children recognize their emotions and control their responses, we can actively listen to what they are saying, talk about their feelings, encourage them to open family discussions about their emotions.

[Ciarra]

You can help children regulate and express their emotions by letting them voice how they truly feel and not correcting them as the first response. You can also help them by getting to their level and seeing it through their eyes instead of using the biases of an adult

[April eCQtives]

To help children recognize their emotions and control their responses, several strategies can be effective. Teaching emotional vocabulary and using an “emotion chart” enable children to articulate their feelings. Modeling emotional expression and practicing mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing, can promote calmness. Storytelling and role-playing encourage exploration of emotions, while keeping an emotion journal fosters self-awareness. Teaching coping strategies, like taking breaks and using positive self-talk, empowers children to manage their feelings. Creating a supportive environment encourages open discussions about emotions, helping children develop healthy coping mechanisms.

[Irene]

Labeling emotions and teaching them what they mean. Showing them what faces match with each emotions and why we feel them so they can identify them when they feel them in the future

[Noung]

In the past, I’ve seen a teacher use feelings cards with the class. She identified them and went over how it “looks” like during circle time. There was also a short yoga session when the class became too chaotic and loud. Another time, I saw a teacher react the way the child was acting and narrated how he felt before helping them. Overall, I think modeling feelings and self-regulating methods seem to work well with children.

[Chloe]

I find that books that tlak about emotions are super helpful, then having the children mirror those emotions as we learn about them. This way, when they are upset, they will be better at recognizing what those emotions look like on their own body and learn ways to get out of the negative reponse cycle.

[nicole]

being there for them by listening to them when theyre expressing their feelings

[Jennifer Huynh]

• Emotion Cards: Use cards with different facial expressions to help children identify and name their emotions. Discuss what situations might cause these feelings.
• Emotion Wheel: Create an emotion wheel that children can spin to explore various feelings and the situations associated with them.
• <b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”> Modeling Emotional Expression
• Share Your Feelings: Regularly express your own emotions in appropriate ways. For example, say, “I’m feeling sad today because I lost my favorite pen,” to model emotional honesty.
• Use Stories: Read books that highlight characters experiencing various emotions and discuss how they handled their feelings.
• <b style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”> Use of Mindfulness Techniques
• Breathing Exercises: Teach children deep breathing techniques. For example, “Breathe in deeply like you’re smelling a flower, and breathe out slowly like you’re blowing out a candle.”
• Body Scans: Guide children through a body scan to help them notice where they feel tension or discomfort when they are experiencing strong emotions.
• <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Create a Safe Space for Expression
• Open Discussions: Encourage children to share their feelings by creating an open and accepting environment. Ask questions like, “How did that make you feel?”
• Feelings Journal: Encourage children to draw or write about their feelings in a journal to help them articulate their emotions.
• <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”> Teach Emotional Regulation Strategies
• Calm-Down Strategies: Provide tools for managing emotions, such as counting to ten, using stress balls, or taking a break in a designated calm-down area.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Help children brainstorm solutions to problems that trigger negative emotions. This empowers them to respond constructively.
• <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Role-Playing Scenarios
• Practice Responses: Use role-playing to act out different emotional situations and practice appropriate responses. This gives children a safe space to experiment with expressing feelings.
• Peer Interactions: Encourage cooperative play where children can practice sharing, taking turns, and resolving conflicts with guidance.
• <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>Visual Aids and Reminders
• Feelings Charts: Display a chart with various emotions in the classroom or home that children can refer to when trying to express how they feel.
• Emotion Check-Ins: Start each day with a check-in where children can express how they feel, using a simple scale or color code (e.g., red for angry, green for happy).

[Sara Sul]

1. Teach Emotion Vocabulary

• Label Emotions: Help children build a vocabulary for their emotions by labeling them in everyday situations. For example, say, “You seem sad because your toy broke” or “I see you’re excited to play outside.”
• Use Books and Stories: Read books or stories that discuss different emotions, and ask the child how the characters might be feeling. This allows children to relate to emotions through narrative and discussion.
• Emotion Charts: Use visual tools, like emotion charts or “feelings faces,” where children can point to or describe how they are feeling. This can be especially helpful for younger children.

2. Model Emotional Awareness

• Talk About Your Own Emotions: Demonstrate emotional awareness by sharing your feelings. For example, “I feel frustrated because it’s taking a long time to finish this task.” This shows children that emotions are normal and everyone experiences them.
• Model Healthy Responses: Show children how to handle emotions constructively. For example, if you feel overwhelmed, say, “I need to take a deep breath to calm down.” Children learn emotional regulation by observing how adults manage their emotions.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

• Deep Breathing: Teach children to take deep breaths when they feel upset or frustrated. Make it fun by calling it “dragon breathing” (big inhales and exhales) or blowing up a pretend balloon with slow, deep breaths.
• Body Scans: Encourage children to do a quick “body scan” by asking them to close their eyes and notice how their body feels. This can help them recognize physical signs of stress, like clenched fists or a fast heartbeat, and take action to calm down.
• Calming Strategies: Teach simple strategies such as squeezing a stress ball, counting to 10, or imagining a peaceful place when emotions start to feel overwhelming.

4. Use “Emotion Check-Ins”

• Regular Check-Ins: Have scheduled moments during the day (such as after snack time or before transitions) where children are encouraged to share how they’re feeling. You can ask, “How are you feeling today?” or use emotion cards for them to choose from.
• Create a Safe Space for Sharing: Make sure children feel safe expressing their feelings without fear of judgment. Let them know it’s okay to feel angry, sad, or frustrated, and offer support to help them manage those emotions.

5. Teach Problem-Solving Skills

• Identify the Problem: Help children recognize the situation that triggered their emotional response. For example, “You seem upset because your friend took the toy.”
• Brainstorm Solutions: Guide children through problem-solving by asking them to think of ways to handle the situation. For example, “What can we do when we feel upset because someone took our toy? Maybe we can ask for it back or find another toy to play with.”
• Encourage Independence: Gradually help children learn to identify and implement their own solutions to emotional challenges, empowering them to manage their feelings independently.

[Astrid Duenas]

An effective technique is describing their face and interpreting it, then asking the child if that interpretation is correct. So if they are upset, I’d usually say that they have a frown on their face and their eyes are telling me that they are sad, is that right? And that can bring the child back to their body and be able to respond to me.

[Sydney Thompson]

I believe the best way to help children release emotions is to look them in then eyes and listen to everything they have to say. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen rather than someone to give solutions and advice.

[Nam Vo]

The best way is let them speak out and listen to them, help them to solve a problem.

[Becca Potter]

I think some of the best and most effective ways are through intentional modeling and providing an environment and culture that supports emotional discussion and exploration. They will learn the signs and names of emotions as the adults in their life experience, name, and work through their own emotions. If we are willing to openly talk about and name what we are feeling, and the healthy choices we are making to deal with those emotions it will be as much a part of their lives as the alphabet or colors. Us taking the time to help them do the same, weather that’s through tools like charts or simply “feeling their bodies” for signs and clues is the other half. They then get to practice and create a practice of recognizing and holding space for their own emotions. Doing this a lot when it’s easy will help greatly for moments when its hard. Stressful moments are not often also learning moments, though learning cam come after.