EMOTIONAL REGULATION

What is Emotional Regulation?

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotions in a healthy and balanced way. It involves recognizing, understanding, and controlling emotional reactions to different situations. Effective emotional regulation helps individuals navigate stress, relationships, and daily challenges with resilience.Emotional regulation evolves over time, requiring guidance, practice, and support at each stage. Providing age-appropriate strategies helps individuals build resilience and emotional well-being.

Helping Young Children (Ages 0–7) Understand and Manage Big Emotions

Building Emotional Intelligence from the Start

Emotional regulation is a vital skill developing in early childhood, and emotional outbursts are a normal part of the process. This article explores how caregivers can support children aged 0–7 in understanding and managing their emotions through responsive caregiving, co-regulation, and practical tools like naming emotions and creating calm-down routines. With empathy and guidance, young children can grow into emotionally resilient and self-aware individuals.

Supporting Emotional Regulation in Children (Ages 8–12)

Tools for Self-Awareness and Coping

Children aged 8–12 begin to experience more complex emotions, peer pressure, and social comparison—all while becoming more self-aware. This article explores how parents can support emotional regulation during this critical stage through routines, healthy expression, coping tools, and open conversations. With the right guidance, preteens can learn to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions—building confidence, resilience, and empathy for others.

Staying Connected in the Storm

Adolescence is a time of powerful emotions, social pressures, and ongoing brain development that can challenge even the most balanced teens. This article explores how parents can support emotional regulation during this stage by staying calm, promoting healthy outlets, and fostering open communication. By building emotional safety and teaching teens how their brains work, parents can help them grow into resilient, emotionally intelligent adults.