Little ones can experience a full spectrum of emotions as they encounter different situations and stimuli. While reactions such as angry outbursts are normal during early childhood, helping your child gain control over their feelings is essential for promoting school readiness and emotional health. Explore what you can do as a parent to help your child recognize their feelings and respond to social situations appropriately below.

How to Encourage Children to Control Emotional Responses

1. Model the Behavior You Want to See

It’s crucial to model emotional self-management by curbing bursts of anger. Taking a deep breath and always speaking respectfully will help to show your child the appropriate ways to react, even when circumstances may be upsetting or aggravating. This helps to set them up for school readiness, as they’ll learn to navigate situations such as classmates who refuse to share and other challenging scenarios. 

2. React With Empathy

When children receive empathy from their parents upon getting upset, they learn that it’s okay to have emotions, even if they don’t feel good. Trying to repress feelings will typically only cause them to escalate. On the other hand, meeting your child’s sadness or anger over a situation they deem unfair with an understanding and loving attitude will show them it’s okay to feel a certain way and then move on. Your child will begin to develop a sense of resilience.

3. Guide Behaviors Without Punishment

Time-outs and other consequences can send the message that emotions are bad, which can actually lead to further misbehavior. They might lash out because they’re feeling a volatile mix of emotions. Guiding your child toward better behavior without punishing them for feeling certain emotions is a better way to promote social and school readiness. You can even limit your child’s actions, such as telling them they can’t hit or scream, but let them know they can feel as upset as they want. This will teach them that they can actually control their emotions when they’re given the opportunity to work through them.

If you’re the parent of a young child seeking ways to prepare your little one for kindergarten and beyond, turn to Plainville Early Learning Center. With programs designed specifically for school readiness, this center offers toddler care for children ages 18 months to 3 years of age throughout Hartford County, CT. Learn more about their programs online or call (860) 747-3321 to schedule a tour.