Helping Kids Navigate Big Feelings (Not Just "Fix" Them!)

Lately, we’ve been having lots of conversations at home about emotions—how they show up, what they feel like, and what to do with them. And honestly? It’s hard!

When kids experience overwhelming feelings, it’s tempting to jump straight to solutions: “Don’t be upset”, “It’s okay”, “Just take a deep breath”. We want our kids to be happy, right?! But emotions aren’t problems to fix. I try and think of them as signals to understand.

Why It’s Important to Help Kids Reflect on Their Emotions

Big feelings can feel confusing, even scary, for children. They might not have the words to describe what’s happening, or they might feel out of control. That’s why reflection is so powerful—it gives kids the tools to notice, name, and navigate their emotions rather than being lost in them.

When children learn to check in with themselves, they begin to understand:
✅ What they’re feeling and why
✅ How intense their emotions are
✅ Where they experience emotions in their body
✅ What triggers certain emotions
✅ What actually helps them feel better

Instead of pushing emotions aside, they learn to work with them.

A Hands-On Tool to Make Emotional Reflection Easier

That’s why I've been creating our Emotional Regulation Reflecting Board—a dry-wipe board designed to help kids slow down, check in with themselves, and create a plan for what helps.

✨ Here’s what makes it special:
💛 6 Core Emotions (+1 Blank) – Because every child experiences feelings in their own way.
💛 Intensity Scale (1-10) – Helping kids gauge just how big their emotion feels.
💛 20 Body Sensations – Encouraging self-awareness by identifying where emotions show up.
💛 Body Outline for Drawing Feelings – A visual way to connect emotions with the body.
💛 ‘What Makes Me Feel Like This’ Box – Space to reflect on triggers and patterns.
💛 Coping Skill Tokens on Velcro – Moveable strategies so kids can create a toolkit of what works.
💛 Action Plan Section – Helping kids choose what might help next time.
💛 Who Can Help? – A space to circle a trusted person (with room to add their own!).

Helping Kids Feel Heard and Supported

This board isn’t just about emotions—it’s about empowerment. It helps kids feel seen, heard, and capable of managing their own emotional world. Whether used at home, in therapy, or in the classroom, it sparks meaningful conversations and gives children a tangible way to work through their feelings.

Because emotions aren’t something to “fix”—they’re something to navigate, with the right tools.

Want to help your child build emotional awareness and resilience?
Check out our Emotional Regulation Reflecting Board here!

Would love to hear—how do you help your child work through big feelings? Let’s chat in the comments! 💛