Resource · For Parents
6 Tips for Teaching Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation — the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s feelings — is one of the most valuable life skills we can give a child.
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6 Tips for Teaching Emotional Regulation
About this resource
How to use it
Yet it doesn’t develop on its own; it needs to be taught, modeled, and practiced.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, you play a central role in helping children build the emotional toolkit they need to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. These six research-informed tips offer practical, everyday strategies to guide kids toward greater self-awareness and emotional balance.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Free printable PDF
- From the therapists at Touchstone Therapy Center
- Print it, or keep it on your phone
How to use it
Step by step
1
Name It to Tame It
Kids can’t manage feelings they can’t identify. Naming feelings reduces intensity and increases awareness.
- “It sounds like you’re frustrated.”
- “Your shoulders are tense — are you feeling nervous?”
- “I see a big feeling coming. Let’s slow down together.”
2
Model Healthy Emotional Management
Kids learn emotional regulation by watching you use it in real time. Let them see you regulate:
- “I’m feeling overwhelmed, so I’m going to take a breath.”
- “I’m frustrated, but I can handle it.”
- “I need a minute — I’ll come right back.”
3
Create a Calm-Down Toolbox
Give kids easy, accessible tools when emotions rise. Ideas for a calm-down kit:
- Stress balls or fidgets
- Coloring or drawing Items
- Bubbles (for slow breathing)
- Weighted blanket
- Scented lotion
- “I Need a Break” card
4
Teach Breathing and Grounding Skills
Use these breathing techniques to calm kid’s nervous systems down:
- Square Breathing: Trace a square in for 4, hold 4, out 4, hold 4.
- Smell the Flower (breath in through nose), Blow the Candle (exhale through mouth)
- 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding: Name 5 things you see… etc.
5
Practice Regulation When They’re Calm
Kids can’t learn new skills in the middle of a meltdown. Teach skills during low-stress moments:
- Role-play “what to do when you feel upset”
- Draw a “feelings thermometer”
- Practice breathing before bed
- Create a plan for overwhelming moments
6
Break Big Feelings into Manageable Steps
Emotional regulation is about tolerating, not eliminating, discomfort. Prompt them with:
- “What’s one small thing you can do right now?”
- “Is your feeling getting bigger, smaller, or staying the same?”
- “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
Download the printable version
Download the printable version
Download the printable version to stick on the fridge or keep on your phone.
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