Can Parents Teach Emotion Regulation?
“Can parents teach emotional regulation in preschoolers or do I need to take him to a therapist?”
There is no need for you to take your child to a therapist to teach him to regulate his emotions. It is fantastic that you are consciously thinking about how to teach him about emotion regulation. Emotion regulation is one of the most important skills for our children to develop. In general, children who can regulate their emotions, tend to do better in life. Emotion competence, social competence, and academic achievement are very closely linked.
How can you teach him? First, remember that children learn more from what we do than from what we say. So, if you want your child to regulate his emotions well, be a model for him. Show him how you do it. Second, teach him explicitly about emotion regulation. Whenever he loses it, help him to calm down, and then talk to him about what he is feeling, why, and how to handle those emotions. The idea is not for him to avoid feeling negative emotions, but for him to be able to deal with those emotions appropriately. Third, children tend to repeat those behaviours that their parents like. So, use praise whenever he regulates his emotions effectively, and ignore him or tell him when he does not.
I hope this information helps.
Here are a few articles that you may find helpful.
Fostering Emotional Intelligence in Children: A Guide for Parents
How to Deal with Tantrums in 5 Year-Olds?
Executive Functions: Discover Everything You Need to Know
I wish you both all the very best.
Love,
Ana
Qué fantástico artículo y que buenos consejos. Ha sido de una gran ayuda. Un abrazo muy fuerte
Maravilloso artículo sobre la serie Adolescentes y consejos de gran ayuda en una etapa tan complicada de nuestros hijos , tan desprotegidos frente a las nuevas tecnologías.Es una ayuda tremenda para nosotros. Muchas gracias
I'd imagine this is quite deteremental for a childs development in the long run as nothing stays the same forever, and we shouldn't really be making these categorisations, especially towards our children.
Just live life, sometimes you'll have to be the parent that's the shoulder to cry on. The week after you may have to raise your voice a little when everyone is in a rush and you're trying to get your children's shoes on.
Just balance it all out, don't be too self critical and pick up on what your child wants and needs.
Again, great writeup!
Thank you so much for your comment. I totally get what you mean. It is always difficult to have kids living with you, wanting to support them and their parents but at the same time not wanting to step in anyone's toes. If there's anything we can do to support you and your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Ana
Ana
sO great to have you here! Totally agree that Zara is great! What other topics would you like us to discuss?
Ana
Ana
