Emotion management: self-regulation for kids
From Smile and Learn
5 min3rd4thSocial-Emotional Learning
Summary
Teaches practical strategies for managing strong feelings — pausing, breathing, and choosing a helpful response instead of reacting.
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Ages 5+
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Big feelings are normal, but we can choose what to do with them. Pausing, breathing, and thinking first help us respond instead of react.
- What does it mean to 'react' versus to 'respond'?
- What is a strategy you can use when a feeling gets big?
- Why does pausing before you act help?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: self-regulation, pause, strategy, calm.
Try it: Pick a calming strategy (breathe, count to ten, take a break). Practice it and note when you'd use it.