[Sarah]

let them express their emotions. do not make them feel like emotions are good vs bad or valid vs invalid

work with them to figure out what they are feeling and what they would like you to respond with. I had a student who lashed out because they did not allow frontal hugs at my last job and the child really wanted a big bear hug. I told them “yes you can have a hug, but only side hugs are allowed at swim lessons”.