Broadening Horizons. Brightening Futures

Help Your Child Manage Big Feelings Course

'Help Your Child Manage Big Feelings'

We run our 'Help Your Child Manage Big Feelings' course every half term. The course consists of 3 sessions which must all be attended in order to complete the course. The first part of each session is where information is given about the zones of regulation.

Session 1

We talk about what the zones of regulation are and what emotions are represented within each colour zone. We discuss how 'no zone is a bad zone' and talk about the importance of validating children's feelings and emotions.

The children join us in this session to play a game of Twister, using different scenarios and we discuss which zone each scenario may make us in and how we might feel.

Session 2

In session 2 we discuss how we can support children when they are feeling big emotions. We talk about ‘our toolkit’ and what strategies may help us when we are feeling sad, angry or frustrated.

Together the children discuss with their grown up what things might be in their toolkit and then we make a sensory bottle to take home to add to our toolkit.

Session 3

In session 3 we discuss the size of the problem and how our reactions need to match the problem/emotion. We discuss reframing our language with children to support them in knowing it’s okay to feel all emotions. We share a story called ‘My Big No No Day’ which parents get a copy of to take home.
The children join us in this session to share a story with their grown up and talk about which zone each of the characters may be in and why. We then take part in some calming activities that we do in school, including 5 finger breathing, drawing to music and meditation/yoga.