🤪Silly Season Survival: Taming the Emotional Rollercoaster

I know the feeling all too well—that surge of excitement that can sometimes tip over into overwhelming energy. For young children, this often shows up as giddiness, silliness, and even uncontrollable behavior. A recent experience reminded me just how important it is to teach self-regulation skills to help kids navigate these intense emotions.

I worked with a bright young student who struggled with over-excitement. Whether it was the anticipation of a fun activity, an upcoming event, or a friend's visit, her enthusiasm would sometimes spiral into behaviors that made things difficult for her. Her parents noticed this pattern and reached out for strategies to help her manage these moments.

My approach focused on helping her build awareness of her internal states. We started by exploring the physical sensations tied to different emotions. How did her body feel when she was over-excited compared to when she was nervous or upset? By guiding her to recognize these subtle differences, she began to notice the early signs of escalating excitement.

This awareness was key because it allowed her to step in before things got out of control. Instead of relying solely on her parents—especially her mom, who was busy managing three other children—I wanted to equip her with tools for self-regulation.

Once she built emotional awareness, we focused on independent self-regulation strategies. I helped her visualize her emotional state as a "bucket" that could fill up with excitement or other emotions. When the bucket overflowed, her behavior became challenging. The goal was to teach her how to "empty" her bucket before it reached that point.

Through practice, she learned to recognize her triggers and proactively manage her emotions. She began to take ownership of her self-regulation, which led to greater independence and fewer challenging moments.

This experience reinforced for me how essential it is to teach kids emotional awareness and self-regulation. When we equip them with these skills, we empower them to navigate life’s ups and downs with confidence and resilience. I encourage all parents and educators to explore these strategies and help children build their own emotional toolboxes.

This month, you can access the tool in my Self-Regulation Module now for only $197.00

💻 ​Link to Course​