Emotional self-regulation skills are fundamental to social integration and the long-term success of children. In fact, emotional regulation has been shown to be one of the best predictors of positive life outcomes. Unfortunately, many children struggle with this skill (especially those who may be highly sensitive). If your child is one of them, don't worry – you can help!
We've put together five ways that parents can help improve their child's emotional self-regulation skills.
1. Foster Stability & Consistency
One way to help your child improve their emotional self-regulation is to provide them with a stable and consistent environment. This means having set routines and expectations for behavior, and following through with consequences when necessary. It also means providing emotional support and understanding when your child is feeling overwhelmed or upset. A predictable environment will help your child feel safe and secure, which in turn will help them regulate their emotions.
2. Teach Coping Skills & Relaxation Techniques
Another way to help your child improve emotional self-regulation is to teach them coping skills and relaxation techniques. This could involve deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization exercises. You can also teach your child how to identify and label their emotions, and how to express them in healthy ways. These techniques can help children calm down when they are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. It's important to practice these techniques with your child on a regular basis so that they can use them when they need to.
3. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Providing positive reinforcement for your child when they display desired behaviors is an effective way to improve their emotional self-regulation skills. This could involve verbal praise, physical affection, or stickers and rewards. Be consistent with this – make sure you are providing praise regularly, and only for behaviors that you want to see more of.
4. Encourage Physical Activity
Physical activity is a great way to help children release excess energy and improve emotional self-regulation. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety levels. Encourage your child to be active every day. See if there are any sports they enjoy or if they would like to try a new activity. You can also go for walks or bike rides together as a family.
5. Lead By Example
Finally, one of the most important things you can do to help your child improve emotional self-regulation is to model appropriate behavior yourself. This means handling your own emotions in a healthy way and being a positive role model for your child. When you are feeling calm and in control, your child will be more likely to feel the same way. Children often have a habit of emulating the behavior of their parents, so make sure you are setting a good example.
Emotional self-regulation is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Be patient with your child and yourself, and keep up the good work!
Snorble® & Self-Regulation
Luckily, you can have Snorble on your team. They will help your child and you explore a world of mindfulness and soothing behaviors together. Snorble is centered around the child the entire time, creating holistic experiences that champion health and wellness. Through teaching meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness exercises, Snorble can encourage your child to move away from being lost in the big emotion and handle it more appropriately. From there, you can use your strategies to further develop an appropriate response.
Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash
