Modeling Emotional Regulation

Our children and teens look to us for cues on how to handle their emotions. If you want to help them manage stress, anger, or frustration, start by modeling emotional regulation yourself.

Instead of reacting impulsively to stressful situations, take a deep breath, pause, and calmly explain how you’re feeling. For instance, “I’m feeling frustrated right now, but I’m going to take a moment to calm down.” This demonstrates that emotions are manageable and can be expressed thoughtfully.

Tip: Show your children that it’s okay to feel strong emotions but also important to handle them in a healthy way. They will learn by your example.