The toddler years are full of ups and downs. The importance of a child learning to regulate his or her emotions is important. We need to recognize and understand our children’s needs and fulfill them to the best of our ability. The emotional experiences of the young child remain deeply embedded in their brains and affects their behavior for years to come.

After attending the AMI Refresher Course in Bellevue earlier this year, I realized the importance of being the container for our children’s strong emotions. It actually helps our children regulate their emotions by us responding with peace and calmness. It is up to us to respond with sympathy and compassion and stay peaceful. Our children look to us to be the calm in their storm, when their emotions are out of control.

Adults play a major role in helping a child learn to calm themselves while dealing with strong emotions. A child will copy the way they see an adult handle their own emotions and also be influenced by how the adult interacts with them when they are having strong emotions. Maria Montessori said “every adult in the presence of a child is a teacher”. If the child experiences the adult confronting his or her feelings and emotions in a kind and gentle way, he will do that also. It is helpful to teach the child to walk away from things that make them angry or frustrated and give themselves time to return to their normal state. Some encourage their child to count or do an activity that is soothing, like coloring in a book , to divert their mind and calm their mind and body. A child needs to be taught they are in control of their actions and this helps them understand their behavior in a better way.

The next two blogs posted for our toddlers will be:

#1 The Importance of Setting Limits
#2 Dealing With Tantrums

Sophie Nguon and Gerri Yokers