Little People - Big Feelings
Today, in our Parent Connect gathering we talked about “Little People, Big Feelings”.
What are some ways that your child experiences “big feelings”?
How does that make you feel and how do you react?
At WWP we work on:
Naming emotions - in ourselves and noticing other’s emotions. Books are helpful with this.
Our bodies can give us clues about how we are feeling - facial expressions, stomach ache, clenched muscles
What can we do with our feelings? Some ideas: tell someone how we’re feeling, use our big muscles (jump, run, push the wall), cry, draw a picture/do art.
How can we calm down (regulate our emotions)? Deep breathing is a great tool, ask for a hug, have a snack, stuffed animal,
From Rachel Chrastil, licensed family educator and WWP parent.
Simple (but not easy!) steps for co-regulating/supporting self-regulation:
Stay Calm and Present: Model calm behavior by staying composed, using a soothing voice, and maintaining a gentle presence to help your toddler feel secure.
Validate Feelings with Simple Language: Acknowledge their emotions (e.g., "I see you're upset") to help them feel understood, and guide them in expressing their feelings.
Observe and Decide How to Respond: Are they calming down, or do they need more support? Based on that, decide how to move forward—whether it’s a calming reminder, offering comfort with a gentle touch, or redirecting their attention.
Co-regulation is not just about helping the child, but also about the parent being mindful of their own emotional state.
