Emotional Regulation: What does that even look like?

Self regulation or emotional regulation is the ability to monitor and modulate which emotions they have, when they have them, and how they experience and express them.

(https://www.parentingforbrain.com/self-regulation-toddler-temper-tantrums/)

It is hard to express how sensory overloaded kiddos are feeling when they get mad, upset, angry, bored, elated, frustrated, sad, emotional, silly, extremely happy; etc. Sometimes it comes out as an explosive mess and it is hard to express it appropriately so that people around them will understand what they need. Young kiddos have a hard time labeling those internal signals, let alone verbalizing what they need appropriately, to get what they are expressing to others for what they want so then it looks like a negative reaction of yelling, pushing, hitting, screaming etc. especially when in a busy environment.

Others perceive it as a meltdown/tantrum as negative behavior because the kiddo is unable to express his/her emotions labeling him/her in a category of behavioral difficulty when they just are unable to regulate their nervous system to be appropriate in that specific situation. This helpful handout will address more facts in a helpful powerpoint format.

We they are of age, they are able to address their Zones of Regulation helping them understand what color they are in that moment to address their emotion. At about age 7 or 8 would be when children can start to recognize their feelings and emotions Relating their color to an appropriate emotion can help them understand where they are in relation to their feelings and then able to express it appropriately and what tool to use to keep them in a “green zone” or happy, calm and focused.

Here are some additional labels or words that can give other helpful ways in addressing each color to increase labeling of emotional regulation overall. Please reach out to your primary care physician or a Sensory Pathways Occupational Therapist to look into additional help/resources with emotional regulation or how it may relate to sensory overload if you have additional questions. This website helps understand what emotional regulation looks like and how to teach it in the moment.

-SP4K