Children build resilience when they experience emotions and learn how to manage them in a positive way. Families can promote resilience by teaching your child how to recognize emotions and their bodies response to emotions. Then teach your child strategies to help manage emotions, so they can build trust in their response and surroundings.
Ask your child what he or she is feeling in the moment:
- What emotion are you feeling?
- What has made you feel this way?
- Have you felt this way before?
Use these questions to help your child recognize the body’s response to emotions:
- How does your body feel?
- What is your heart doing?
- Is it going fast or slow?
- Place your hand in front of your mouth- what does your breath feel like on your hand?
- Is it fast or slow?
Utilize these questions to help guide your child to calm and focus:
- What would make you feel better?
- What steps can you take to help you calm down?
- How can I help you?
Strategies to help bring calm to emotions.
- Recognize 5 things in the room you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can smell, 2 things you can hear and 1 thing that makes you smile.
- Use the 5 second rule for deep breathing. 5 Seconds in, 5 second hold, 5 second release
- Starting with the feet all the way to the head, tighten each muscle group one at a time, and then release the tension by stretching, breathing, and relaxing.
