What strategies can promote emotional regulation in children during middle childhood?

Teaching coping skills and modeling emotion management are effective strategies to promote emotional regulation in children during middle childhood because they provide children with practical tools to understand and manage their feelings. By teaching coping skills, children learn techniques such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or problem-solving approaches that can help them navigate challenging emotions or situations. This proactive approach equips them to handle emotional responses more effectively in real-life scenarios.

Modeling emotion management by demonstrating appropriate responses to various feelings allows children to observe and learn how to express emotions in healthy ways. When adults exhibit composure during stressful situations or express their feelings openly, children can see the value in recognizing and articulating their emotions rather than bottling them up or reacting impulsively.

Engaging in these practices creates an environment where children feel safe to explore their emotions and encourages a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence, making them more resilient and better equipped to handle social and personal challenges as they grow.