Wellbeing

Well-being at GGLPS

It is essential that all students in the school feel safe and know that they belong to a supportive and caring environment. Well-being in a broad sense to us incorporates behaviour management, programs to support students socially and emotionally, and the development of strategies to act responsibly and aid learning. You are encouraged to discuss these ideas and strategies with your children to reinforce what is happening at school.

Managing Big Feelings

You may have gotten through the terrible twos but older children still have emotional meltdowns too, which is often the result of big feelings and an inability to self-regulate.  Self–regulation is not about not feeling, all feelings are valid and it’s okay for kids to feel whatever they feel.  What is important is how these feelings are managed.  The pre-frontal cortex of the brain is heavily involved in regulating big emotions however this part of the brain does not develop until sometimes in the early ’20s, this means that it is a skill that develops gradually and needs the help of caring parents, teachers, and other adults.  Remember all children are different and will develop at a different pace and all will struggle with self-regulation until they have learned to manage these feelings.   Here are some ways you can help your child strengthen and learn this skill. 

Name the emotion

Help your child name or identify their emotion when they appear.  This can be supported with conversations that identify emotions in others – characters in books, movies, etc. This grows a child’s bank of words related to emotions. 

Talk about what behaviour is acceptable.

Having emotions is OK but hurting people is not. Talk to your children about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not even during tricky times. 

Take time to calm down and count to ten

When emotions are taking over, allow your child to take some time away from everyone else to calm down.  Provide books, music, toys, etc. in a quiet space where they can re-group.  In the heat of the moment, you can get your child to count to ten before taking any action. It gives your child a chance to cool down before things get out of hand and you as a parent to take 10 to take a moment for yourself if you are not feeling calm. 

Breathe slowly

Deep belly breathing triggers the relaxation response and can help bring some calm back into the situation.  Practise slow, measured breathing at other times so your child knows what to do when big emotions are rising.  Practise breathing in to the count of four and out to the count of four can help your child connect to the feeling inside their body and helps them identify what emotion they are experiencing. 

Ask for help

Let your child know they can ask for help. Developing this skill takes time and sometimes children can’t do it on their own. Let them know you are there to help them if they need it. 

Mary Raschella

Family and Schools Counsellor