The act ofraising children who know how to regulate emotions: what benefits does it bring and how to do it? Let’s explore with Mykingdom through the article below.
Besides raising children to be smart and perform well in school, teaching children to regulate emotions is extremely important, because this is a skill that helps kids cope with difficulties, succeed, and build better relationships.
Is it necessary to teach children to manage their emotions from an early age?
Practicing emotional regulation from a young age helps children recognize and adjust their mood positively. When they learn to curb anger, overcome sadness, or lift their spirits, they will communicate better, integrate more easily, and build positive relationships.
Emotional control is also a key to future success. Children with high emotional intelligence are typically persistent, confident, and adaptable to change. Therefore, parents should cultivate this skill from an early age to help their children develop more comprehensively.
How children's emotions develop across stages
Infancy (0 - 1 year): Forming basic emotions
From birth, babies can express emotions through crying and smiling. In the first months, they respond to their surroundings with joy, fear, anger, or discomfort. By around 6–9 months, babies begin to recognize the faces of familiar people and respond more clearly to their parents' emotional expressions.
Toddler stage (1 - 3 years): Understanding and expressing emotions
Children begin to express their emotions in more intentional ways, such as joy when praised, or tantrums when their needs aren’t met. This is also a time when emotions can burst out because they don’t yet know how to regulate, shown through temper tantrums or strong reactions when blocked.
Preschool stage (3 - 6 years): Learning to regulate emotions
Children begin to understand that emotions can be controlled and adjusted. They learn to be more patient, to share their emotions with others, and to recognize the emotions of their friends. This is also the time when children start developing empathy, knowing how to comfort others when they are sad.
Primary school stage (6 - 12 years): Developing emotional intelligence
At this stage, children have a better understanding of their own emotions and those of others. They start to think before reacting, learn to control anger and disappointment. Communication and teamwork skills are formed, helping children integrate into school and social environments.
Adolescence (12 years and up): Refining emotions
During puberty, a child’s emotions become more complex due to hormonal changes. They may experience intense feelings such as anxiety, stress, insecurity, or heightened excitement. This is the stage when they learn to face pressure, adjust their behavior, and build their personal identity. Parents need to have appropriate approaches during adolescence.
Understanding the emotional development process helps parents adopt appropriate educational methods, thereby supporting the child in forming emotional intelligence and achieving holistic development.
Ways to raise children who can control their emotions
Helping children regulate their emotions is a process that requires patience and guidance from parents. Here are some effective methods to train this skill in children:
Teach children to recognize emotions
Before they can regulate their emotions, children need to clearly understand what they are feeling—sad, happy, angry, or anxious. Parents can help them identify emotions by asking questions such as: “Are you sad or angry?” or “How do you feel when someone takes your toy?” This helps children name and better understand their emotional state.
Be a role model for children
Children mainly learn to regulate their emotions by observing their parents. When parents stay calm in difficult situations, children will imitate. Parents, please teach your child not to shout. Demonstrate patience, listening, and use problem-solving approaches rather than yelling or reacting negatively.
Teach children how to calm down
When children are angry or anxious, parents can teach them simple techniques to regain calm, such as:
-
Deep breathing: Instruct children to inhale deeply through the nose, hold for a few seconds, then exhale slowly.
-
Counting: Encourage children to count from 1 to 10 to help settle their mood.
-
Take a break: If the child is too upset, let them sit quietly for a moment or do a relaxing activity such as drawing, playing music.
Teach children to express emotions with words
In parenting, instead of shouting or hitting friends when angry, children need to learn to express their emotions appropriately. Parents can guide them to articulate their feelings, for example: “I don’t like it when you take my toy; I feel sad.” This helps children communicate better and avoid violent behavior.
Encourage children to find solutions
A practical way to raise children to control their emotions is to guide them to solve problems positively. They will understand that there are many ways to resolve issues without overreacting. When conflicts arise, instead of reacting with anger or crying, they should calmly think and find a suitable solution.
Rather than simply saying “Don’t cry” or “Don’t be angry,” parents should help children discover ways to solve problems. For example, if a child is angry about losing a game, ask: “What can you do to play better next time?” This helps children learn to regulate their emotions and think more positively.
Encouragement and praise
When children try to regulate their emotions well, parents should nurture them by praising and encouraging: “I see you’ve tried to stay calm, that’s really good!” This helps children feel confident and continue practicing emotional regulation. Give the child appealing gifts to boost their spirit.
Be patient and accompany your child
Young children cannot regulate their emotions immediately, so parents need to be patient and stay with them. Create a safe environment where they can express their emotions without fear of judgment.
Parents can refer to various modern parenting methods, modern parenting methods, Japanese-style parenting or Jewish approaches to nurture children who are happy and develop more comprehensively.
Parents, please raise children to know how to control their emotions from early on. This skill will help children develop emotional intelligence, build good relationships, and achieve greater success in the future.
