Crisis Info
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Crisis Info
Sign Up for Emails- Identify the root cause of the child's behavior before selecting and enforcing consequences.
- Children act out to get what they want, often escalating their behavior if initial attempts fail.
- Ensure the child isn't hungry, tired, busy, thirsty, or bored, and consider if they are overwhelmed by emotions.
- Struggles with new skills can lead to frustration and acting out; consult a pediatrician or teacher if concerns persist.
Emotional & Behavior Wellness Resources
Kids start feeling emotions at a very young age. Emotions are helpful in fully enjoying life experiences, helping us connect with others, and serving as an “alarm system” when something is not right.
Kids also start acting out from a young age - starting with crying as infants and going all the way to door slams and eye rolls as teens. There are things you can do to encourage more positive behavior and discourage unwanted behaviors.
It starts with talking to children about emotions and teaching them how to manage and cope with strong emotions - will help them have more control over their behaviors and choices.
Boredom can also be good for mental health. In small doses, unstructured time can be a time of creativity and exploration. We have some ideas for making boredom work for you.
Managing Behavior
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Why Kids Act Out
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How to Get More “Good” Behavior
- Setting routines, ensuring the child is well-rested and nourished, and providing attention and affection may reduce challenging behaviors.
- Clearly state behavior expectations, especially before new or unusual situations.
- Focus on and reward positive behavior to encourage repetition.
- Tying rewards to positive behavior can motivate children and reinforce good habits.
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”Bad” Behavior? Try Consequences
- Children's behavior is a form of communication; responding appropriately will help you maintain a healthy relationship.
- Consequences should teach and communicate, rather than punish.
- Ignoring attention-seeking or silly behavior can be effective. Address aggressive or dangerous behavior immediately.
- Follow through with stated consequences and offer praise for positive responses to reinforce good behavior.
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Naming Emotions
- Emotion regulation is a valuable life skill that can be taught from birth and includes naming, noticing, expressing and coping with emotions.
- Children start distinguishing major emotions like anger, fear, sadness, and happiness as early as 6 months old by watching faces, tone of voice and body language.
- As children grow, they learn more specific and subtle emotions (like frustration or joy), and the differences between similar emotions (like happiness, contentment and pride).
- Teaching children emotional language helps them express their feelings with words instead of through behaviors.
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Managing Anger in Kids
No matter their age, learning how to manage anger and frustration is an important process throughout a child's development. Use these tips and tools to help manage your child’s anger.
Handling Emotions
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Why Teach Kids About Coping with Emotions?
- Emotion regulation involves noticing, understanding and managing feelings, which helps kids’ mental health.
- Teaching emotion regulation skills can help with increase resilience, school success, advanced social skills and lower mental health risks.
- Children can start learning these skills early, even before they can speak, by teaching them emotion words from infancy.
- Talking about emotions is the first step in children’s emotional development.
Article
Activity
Naming Emotions
- Emotion regulation is a valuable life skill that can be taught from birth and includes naming, noticing, expressing and coping with emotions.
- Children start distinguishing major emotions like anger, fear, sadness, and happiness as early as 6 months old by watching faces, tone of voice and body language.
- As children grow, they learn more specific and subtle emotions (like frustration or joy), and the differences between similar emotions (like happiness, contentment and pride).
- Teaching children emotional language helps them express their feelings with words instead of through behaviors.
Article
Activity
Helping Kids Notice How They Are Feeling
- Many people struggle to recognize emotions as they feel them. Teaching children to notice and understand their feelings can help them manage those feelings.
- Activities like labeling emotions, discussing past situations and noticing facial expressions can help children recognize and express their emotions.
- Teaching kids to notice how emotions feels in their bodies (e.g., butterflies in the stomach when nervous) can help them understand their feelings better.
- Keeping a daily emotions journal may help children track and understand their feelings, promoting better emotional regulation over time.
Article
Helping Kids Express Emotions Appropriately
- All emotions are a normal part of life and it's good to express them.
- Children need to learn how to communicate their emotions, even those often seen as negative, like anger or sadness.
- Regular conversations help kids feel supported and understood, it also will encourage them to express their feelings.
- Encourage children to pause and reflect on their feelings.
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Helping Kids Cope with Strong Emotions
- When kids can cope with their feelings it helps them control their choices and behaviors.
- Emotion regulation skills are best learned when calm.
- Coping activities include deep breathing, movement or exercise, mindfulness and meditation, listening to music and using distractions.
- Encourage children to create a calm down space filled with comforting items.
- Developing the ability to cope with strong emotions is a gradual process that requires patience and consistent practice.
Boredom
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The Good and Bad of Boredom
- Boredom challenges children to come up with their own solutions and engage in creative play, which is beneficial for their mental health.
- Having time without planned activities allows children to explore and entertain themselves, fostering independence.
- Allowing children to experience boredom helps them learn to manage frustration and develop resilience.
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Your Guide to Managing Indoor Boredom
- Use puzzles, books, crafts, building blocks and brain games to stimulate creativity and problem-solving.
- When you can, try family activities like cooking together, which can improve reading skills, teamwork and a sense of belonging.
- Get active by building obstacle courses, circuits, scavenger hunts or dance contests to keep kids moving.
Activities
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