Beyond "Happy" & "Sad": Building Your Child's Emotion Regulation Toolkit

In this episode of the Mindful Motherhood podcast, Dr. Katie teaches parents how to distinguish between meltdowns and tantrums and offers practical tips to address each effectively. She emphasizes the importance of approaching children's emotional outbursts with curiosity and empathy, labeling emotions, and validating feelings to foster connection and emotional growth. The episode provides strategies for helping children of all ages to build their emotion regulation toolkit, including how to build their emotional vocabulary, manage their feelings, and develop resilience through everyday interactions, play, and other creative outlets.

Website: mindfulmotherhoodpodcast.com

Connect with us! mindfulmompod@gmail.com

Resources:

(Books)

First Emotions Series (11 books)

Every Little Thing

Little Monkey Calms Down

My Body Sends a Signal

Listening to My Body

Listening with My Heart

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings (Growing Hearts)

A Kids Book About Coping Skills

Two Big Feelings; Quiet in my Body; Happy Either Way (LOVEVERY)

Everyone Feels Series

Belly Breathe

Breathe, Think, Do with Elmo

(Visuals)

Calm Strips Visuals

Textured Infinity Breathing Strips

5 Deep Breaths Visual

Timestamps:

1:18 - Tantrum vs Meltdown

5:27 - Introduction to coping skills

6:44 - Building an emotional vocabulary 

14:01 - Building coping skills/regulation tools for ages 5-10

18:10 - Building coping skills/regulation tools for ages 11-18

24:11 - Modeling emotional regulation for our kids

28:57 - Challenge of the week!