**75 Proven Calming Techniques for Kids to Develop Emotional Regulation Skills**
These easy, engaging strategies can help your child cultivate strong emotional regulation skills. Be sure to check out the free printable list of 75 calming techniques, perfect for when your child feels overwhelmed by anger or anxiety.
**Table of Contents**
Emotional regulation is a crucial skill for children, perhaps one of the most important predictors of future success. Given that a child’s nervous system is still developing, it’s understandable that they often struggle to manage their emotions. Honestly, aren’t we all still working on this, even as adults?
As a parent, one of the best things you can do to raise an emotionally intelligent child is to support them in exploring various calming strategies. You might have believed these skills would naturally develop, but in reality, it takes lots of practice, trial and error, and guidance to teach your child how to effectively cope with intense emotions.
So, what sets these calming strategies apart from others you may have tried? They’re backed by science and include:
1. Techniques rooted in the neuroscience of emotional regulation, which consider how your child’s brain processes stress and intense emotions.
2. Activities that incorporate co-regulation, where a child needs close, connected support from a caregiver to return to a calm state.
3. Movements that provide soothing and organizing sensory input to the brain and nervous system.
For example:
– **Breathing exercises**: These are quick and effective in helping your child calm their stress response.
– **Writing letters**: Encourage them to share their feelings or discuss a challenging topic through writing.
– **Essential oils**: Safe, child-friendly scents can significantly impact mood, as the brain’s olfactory center is linked to the emotional center.
– **Squeeze balls and putty**: These provide calming sensory input by compressing joints.
– **Mindfulness through animal watching**: This helps kids focus and relax.
– **Inversion (like hanging upside down)**: Quickly engages the nervous system to reduce stress.
– **The 5-4-3-2-1 technique**: Grounding by identifying senses – 5 things you see, 4 hear, 3 touch, 2 smell, and 1 taste.
– **Nature exposure**: Holding or watching nature calms the brain.
Focusing on gratitude and specific cognitive tasks can also deactivate the brain’s emotional response center and engage the thinking part.
Remember, there’s no single solution for every child. Each will have unique needs based on their development stage, personality, and environment. Helping your child understand how to care for their brain and body during emotional highs is key to fostering emotional intelligence.
And don’t worry if you can’t remember all these techniques – we’ve got a handy printable list to make it easier.
**Additional Resources:**
– Discover 50 essential anger management tools for kids.
– Learn about 10 anxiety symptoms in children that are often overlooked by parents.
– Read more about the benefits of outdoor play and how focusing on tasks can help children manage emotions.
**About Angela Pruess LMFT**
Hello! I’m Angela, a Licensed Children’s Mental Health Professional, Positive Parenting Coach, and mom to spirited kids who teach me something new every day. I’m passionate about helping every child lead a fulfilling life, and I believe that emotional well-being is the key to lifelong success and happiness. Learn more about me and the Parents with Confidence manifesto.
