Williamstown Primary School News

Wellbeing & Inclusion 

at Willy

(Repeat)

Helping Our Children Navigate BIG Feelings 

Through the Respectful Relationships and the Willy Kid Programs here at Williamstown Primary School, we acknowledge and support ALL feelings and enable students to explore coping skills that work for them. The Year 5/6 team have recently had staff from Sex Education Australia work with our students as part of the Health Education curriculum, and from this we have had access to some fantastic resources, not only about the human body, but also about the human mind. The organisation has listed some great strategies for parents to help their children navigate their feelings, and to support them as they grow. For more information, please go to: https://www.sexeducationaustralia.com.au

 

From Sex Education Australia

Feelings, we all have them. Imagine a scenario where a child is upset because their favourite toy is broken. They might cry, scream, or withdraw. Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to these intense emotions in a healthy way. For classroom teachers, we spend time helping our Willy Kids name their emotions and we teach coping strategies. For parents, helping their children develop emotional management skills is crucial for their overall well-being and social development. Here’s how you can support your child’s emotional regulation at different ages.

 

Five years old

At this age, children are just beginning to understand their emotions and how to express them. They might have frequent emotional outbursts and need guidance to navigate their feelings.

What you can do:

  • Label emotions: Help your child identify and name their emotions. Use simple language like ‘I see you’re feeling sad because your toy is broken.’
  • Model calmness: Show them how to stay calm by managing your own emotions. Children learn by observing adults.
  • Create a safe space: Provide a comforting environment where they feel safe to express their feelings without judgement.
  • Teach simple techniques: Introduce basic calming techniques, like deep breathing or counting to ten.

 

Six to eight years old

Children in this age group start to develop a better understanding of their emotions and can begin to use more sophisticated strategies to manage them.

What you can do:

  • Encourage self-expression: Encourage your child to talk about their feelings. Ask open-ended questions like, ‘What made you feel that way?’
  • Help them think of problem-solving skills: Teach them to think through solutions to their problems. For example, if they’re upset about a conflict with a friend, discuss ways to resolve it.
  • use stories and role-playing: Use books and role-playing to explore different emotions and appropriate responses. This helps them understand and practise emotional regulation in a safe context.
  • give positive reinforcement: Praise them when they handle their emotions well. Positive reinforcement encourages them to continue using healthy strategies.

 

Nine to twelve years old

As children approach adolescence, they face more complex social situations and emotional challenges. They need to begin developing more advanced strategies to manage their emotions effectively.

What you can do:

  • help them build an emotional vocabulary: Encourage a richer emotional vocabulary. Help them articulate more nuanced feelings like frustration, disappointment, or anxiety.
  • teach reflection: Encourage self-reflection by asking questions like, ‘How did that situation make you feel?’ and ‘What do you think you could do differently next time?’
  • promote healthy outlets: Encourage activities that help them manage stress, such as sport, arts/crafts, or journalling. These outlets provide a constructive way to process emotions.
  • encourage (and allow) increasing independence: Let them take more responsibility for managing their emotions. Guide them, but also give them space to practise self-regulation
  • By understanding the developmental stages of emotional regulation and using age-appropriate strategies, parents can help their children build the skills they need to navigate their emotions effectively. This support is crucial for their emotional health and overall development.

 

Further reading with your children

  • A Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside
  • All About Feelings by Felicity Brooks
  • No Difference Between Us by Jayneen Sanders
  • Silly Billy by Anthony Browne
  • Talking About Feelings by Jayneen Sanders
  • The Feelings Series by Trace Moroney
  • The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
  • The Great Big Book of Feelings by Mary Hoffman
  • The Kindness Book by Todd Parr
  • You, Me and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders

 

Further reading for parents and carers 

https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/in-focus-understanding-childrens-emotions-and-behaviour/

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Lisa Leydin                                                                 Anna Swan

Assistant Principal                                                   Learning Specialist

Disability, Inclusion & Wellbeing                         Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader (Wed–Fri)