Whether you are a parent, educator or teacher, there will come a time where you might become preoccupied and feel out of resources to support your child’s big emotions. If you are looking for additional ideas, this little guide is for you.
What is an emotion?
An emotion is a brief and intense emotional state. At the same time, it engages our body and mind to respond to a change in the environment. Emotions are adaptive reactions and are unique to each individual. The two poles of the emotion spectrum arce described as pleasant and unpleasant. These emotions manifest themselves simultaneously in two ways, through external and internal actions. The external actions correspond to the different physiological changes that can be observed, such as blushing, trembling and agitation. Internal actions, on the other hand, correspond to thoughts, positive or negative, belonging to the person experiencing an emotion. They are therefore private and invisible to others.
The development of emotional competence with age
Emotional competence develops from birth until the age of 25. Three equally important elements develop over the years to build this emotional competence. These are emotional expression, emotional awareness and emotional regulation. From a very young age, children experience a wide range of emotions on a daily basis. Over time, they learn to recognize them, in themselves and in others. Equipped with a fine radar, they become more and more skilled at detecting and expressing the circumstances that caused an emotion to appear. This understanding gradually helps them to find strategies to manage them in their daily lives.
Strategies
A child’s emotional competence is gradually determined and forged by his or her daily experiences than by his or her genetic baggage. It is at this point that the role of parents, educators and teachers becomes very important in the development of this skill. Here are 4 tips to help you guide a child through big emotions:
1. Respond to the child’s needs: take their emotions seriously. If a child is sad, give him comfort to help him express his emotion. Trying to rationalize a child who is experiencing an emotion is going against the current.
2. Set an example: you are a role model for your child, so if you are angry, act the way you would like your child to act when he or she is angry.
3. Putting emotions into words: verbalizing the emotion helps to reinforce the knowledge of emotions, experienced by oneself or others, and thus contributes to developing emotional competence. Refer to a list of emotions if this step is difficult for you.
4. Give your child simple and concrete options to help them manage their emotions: letting your child experience their emotions is essential. Provide a safe environment for your child to experience their emotions.
Conclusion
In short, emotions remain complex to understand, both for the child and the adult. In the event that this represents a major challenge for you and your child, it is recommended that you seek the help of a health professional, such as a physician or an occupational therapist. We hope this short guide has helped you find new strategies to try in your day to day.
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