At ABCnMe, we know that being a parent is a journey filled with wonderful moments and unexpected challenges. If you've ever felt a bit lost trying to help your child understand and manage their emotions, you're not alone. We're passionate about accompanying you on this path, using approaches based on child neuroscience and positive discipline to offer practical tools that really work. Inspired by experts like Jill Stamm, Maritchu Seitún, and the authors of Positive Discipline—Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and H. Stephen Glenn—we have compiled effective strategies and advice that you can start applying at home today.
1. Understanding Your Child's Brain: What Neuroscience Teaches Us
Children's brains are constantly developing, and learning to manage their emotions is a fundamental part of this process. Jill Stamm, in her work Child Neuroscience, explains that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for self-control and emotional regulation, is not fully developed in early childhood. Therefore, children tend to react impulsively to intense emotions, and it's crucial that adults offer appropriate guidance.
Practical Tips:
Create a predictable routine: Establishing a daily routine helps reduce anxiety, as children know what to expect and feel more secure.
Create a “calm jar”: Fill a jar with water and glitter, and encourage them to watch how the particles settle while they breathe deeply. It's a visual tool that helps them calm down.
2. Motivate, Don't Punish: An Approach Based on Positive Discipline
Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, and H. Stephen Glenn teaches that emotions should not be repressed or punished. Instead of trying to control children's emotions or minimize them (“It's not a big deal”), it's essential to validate their feelings and guide them toward constructive solutions. This approach focuses on teaching them that emotions are valid, but it's important to learn to manage them in a healthy way.
Practical Tips:
Reinforce small emotional victories: If your child manages to calm down after frustration, acknowledge their effort: “You did great, you calmed yourself down!” This positive reinforcement motivates them to keep learning.
Promote mindful breathing: Teach them to breathe deeply to calm down. A simple exercise is to imagine they are inflating a big balloon, blowing slowly.
3. Raising Confident and Secure Children: The Importance of Guiding Without Controlling
In Raising Confident, Motivated, and Secure Children, Maritchu Seitún highlights the importance of allowing children to experience and manage their emotions without always intervening to solve their problems. This helps them develop self-confidence and the emotional resilience necessary to face challenges.
Practical Tips:
Set clear limits, but with empathy: When a child experiences an intense emotion, it's important to maintain firm but respectful boundaries: “I understand you're upset because you don't want to stop playing, but it's time for dinner. You can continue afterward.” This teaches emotional control while validating the feeling.
Help them find solutions: Instead of solving situations for them, ask: “What could you do next time you feel like this?” It helps them develop skills to handle emotional conflicts.
4. Practical Strategies for Emotional Management in Children
For children to learn to manage their emotions effectively, it's essential that parents and educators offer practical tools. These strategies are easy to apply and can make a big difference in their daily lives.
Practical Tips:
Use stories and games to talk about emotions: You can use stories where characters experience emotions and discuss how they handle them. Playing with puppets or using songs can also be a fun way to teach about emotions.
Be patient: every child has their own pace: Remember that each child learns to manage their emotions at their own pace. Patience and consistency are key for them to feel supported as they progress in their self-regulation process.
Conclusion: The Path to Healthy Emotional Management
At ABCnMe, we believe that teaching children to manage their emotions is a fundamental skill that will serve them for a lifetime. Integrating neuroscience, positive discipline, and respectful parenting allows parents and educators to guide children with effective tools. With patience, empathy, and support, every child can learn to express and regulate their emotions in a healthy way
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