5 WAYS KIDS TO HELP KIDS HANDLE NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

WHAT IS AN EMOTION AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

An emotion is anything that you feel-happy, sad, angry, hurt, resentful.

As adults we have been trained, for the most part, on how to handle our emotions. Experience is a heck of a teacher and we have a lot of it to get us through most situations.

But what about our children? Yes, they can mirror what they see in us, but does that help them to actually deal with their own emotions?

Are they able to understand what they see or interpret the way we handle certain situations and why?

Probably not.

Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot of parents haven’t been through such an uncertain time in their lives. The stress, anxiety, and lack of understanding can be extremely overwhelming. Now, think about how your child may feel…

I like the idea of having a plan specifically for your child to use in order to calm their emotions. If they are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed here a a few that can help.

5 STEPS ON HANDLING NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

1. THINK ABOUT THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD

Negative thoughts often bring about negative emotions. Therefore, think of something positive instead. It could be playing in the park with your family or friend. Maybe you can think of a time when you had the most fun like a vacation or field trip. You can also think of how you felt on your birthday!

2. THINK OF PHRASES TO HELP YOU RELAX

The first thing to tell yourself is “It’s okay to feel this way”. Emotions are a normal part of life and should be labeled. Another great phrase is “I can get through this”. Empower yourself to know that you are strong and can overcome this overwhelming feeling. You can also tell yourself that “I can ask for help if I need it”. Ask your parents, grandparents, or other trusted adults to help you if you feel it is needed.

3. GET UP AND MOVE

Turn on some music and dance! Be silly, jump around, do cartwheels in the backyard…..anything that gets your body up and moving around. You can take your dog for a walk or go jogging.

4. BREATHE

Get somewhere quiet. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose then out through your mouth. Do this activity 3 times or as you slowly count to 10. This gives your body time to calm down and think about what you need to do next.

5. REMIND YOURSELF THAT IT IS NEVER OKAY TO HURT OTHERS

THE EASIEST WAY TO STOP a negative FEELING is by thinking positive!