3 Ways to Develop Emotional Regulation in Toddlers

Healthy emotional regulation is one of the most valuable skills you can teach your little one as a parent. It helps them to control their behaviour, communicate their feelings better, and build healthy relationships. While teaching toddlers to regulate their emotions is not always an easy task, it is undoubtedly a fundamental step in their emotional development. Heguru Method is a leading provider of right brain training in Singapore, and we’ve put together some effective ways to help your toddler learn the appropriate emotion regulation skills.

Teach your child to recognize their emotions  

One of the first steps in developing emotional regulation in toddlers is helping them recognise their emotions. Toddlers are just starting to understand their feelings, and require guidance to identify and label them. This can be done by talking to your toddler about their emotions and helping them understand what they are feeling. For instance, if your toddler is frustrated because they cannot have a toy, you can say, “I see that you’re feeling upset because you really want that toy.”

As your children learn to recognise their emotions, encourage them to express their feelings in a healthy way. Provide a safe space where they can vent their emotions, such as a designated “time-out” corner. Additionally, listening and having your children’s emotions acknowledged is important, even if you may not agree with their behaviour. Doing so will ensure they feel heard and understood, which can go a long way in promoting emotional regulation.

Enrol them in right brain training classes

Emotional regulation is closely linked to right brain development, as it involves understanding and processing emotions. Right brain training activities such as art, music, and imaginative play can help toddlers develop emotional regulation skills. These activities engage the right brain and help children learn to express their emotions in a creative and healthy way. For example, art activities can help toddlers explore their feelings through colours and shapes, while music activities can help them regulate their emotions through rhythm and melody.

Enrolling your child in toddler classes that include right brain training activities can provide them with a well-rounded approach to emotion regulation. These classes also help toddlers build social skills and empathy, which are vital components of emotion regulation.

Be your child’s role model

Toddlers learn a lot from watching and imitating the behaviour of those around them. As a parent, model the behaviour you want your toddler to imitate by demonstrating healthy emotion regulation. This means managing your own emotions in a healthy way and showing your child how to do the same.

Emotion regulation can be modelled by taking a deep breath when you’re feeling angry, or using positive self-talk when you’re feeling anxious. Responding to your frustrated toddler with calmness and understanding can also send a powerful message. When your child sees you managing your emotions in a healthy way, they are more likely to follow your example.

Learn more: 4 Tips to Improve Your Child’s Focus

Research has shown that children who feel safe are more likely to have better emotion regulation skills to manage difficult feelings. Support your toddler in handling their emotions with these above mentioned tips, and provide an environment in which they can feel safe to express them.

If you’re interested in enrolling your toddler in a brain training programme that incorporates right brain development, Heguru Method is a great option to consider. Get in touch with our team of educators to learn more about our right brain training programmes today.

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