Big feelings and emotional coaching

When a child melts down, name the feeling before fixing anything else. "You're really disappointed." "You wanted to keep playing and it's hard to stop." Labels are what turn a raw emotion into something manageable. This narration is how kids learn to regulate. Over time, they'll begin to name their own feelings, which slows the intensity and length of meltdowns. The change is gradual — you're planting seeds that sprout over years, not days. Avoid dismissing ("It's not a big deal") or fixing too fast ("Here, have this instead"). Both bypass the emotional work. Sit with the child, acknowledge, wait, and only then move to problem-solving if it's still needed. Most of the time, being heard is enough.