Emotional Regulation Skills
Emotional regulation skills are the ability to understand one’s emotions and manage behavioral responses to emotional situations. Tasks that involve emotional regulation include labeling one's feelings and calming down when upset. Challenges in this area may manifest as having strong reactions to minimally stressing situations or having low energy and not engaging with others. (Clark et al., 2019; O'Brien & Kuhaneck, 2019)
Toddler
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Established attachment to caregivers
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May have tantrums to obtain needs
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Development of self-conscious emotions (shame, pride, etc.)
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By the end, able to label different emotions and discuss emotional situations
Preschool to Early Elementary
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Can express concerns to a person who can help regulate their mood state
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Increased behavioral strategies to manage own emotions
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Understand and use display rules (culturally defined rules that guide a person’s decision to alter emotional behavior based on social context)
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Develop empathy, comfort peers
Middle Childhood
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Can recognize that others’ emotions may be different from their own
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Alter emotional expressions based on social context
Key Milestones
Helpful Tools
1
Alert Program: How Does Your Engine Run?
This program helps students identify their state of alertness by picturing their body as an engine that is running on "high," "low," or "just right." Students can use this language to express how they are feeling and direct themselves towards self-regulation strategies associated with each level.