How to Navigate Your Child Emotions With These 2 Free Tools

Introduction

Empathy is at the heart of parenting and education. To help navigate a child's emotional world, we introduce two tools: the "Child’s Color Wheel of Emotions" and "Child's Wheel of Emotions, Part 2: What to Try When Upset."

For a deeper understanding of meltdowns, explore the "Tantrum Toolkit: A Guide for Children Meltdowns" course.

1. The Child's Color Wheel of Emotions: More Than Just Colors

Before diving into its utility, let's break down what this wheel is. It's a visually intuitive tool that associates various emotions with distinct emojis or faces of emotions.

Whether your child is 3 or 10, here's why it’s useful for parenting:

• Visual Learning: Many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, resonate with visual learning. Associating emotions with colors and faces offers them an accessible way to express feelings.

• Building Vocabulary: It aids children in expanding their emotional vocabulary beyond the basic 'happy' or 'sad,' helping them pinpoint their feelings with greater accuracy.

• Promoting Open Conversation: When a child can point to a color, it initiates a discussion. This wheel becomes a starting point for meaningful conversations between parents and children.

Get this free tool here.

2. What to Try When Upset (Advanced Parenting Tool)

Understanding emotions is half the battle. Knowing how to manage and navigate those emotions, especially the challenging ones, is equally crucial.

This part is mostly for children who have at least a little bit of reading skills and can walk or act independently. 

• Strategies for Coping: This wheel doesn’t just label emotions—it provides actionable steps children can take to manage feelings like anger, sadness, or fear.

• Promotes Self-regulation: Over time, as children use this wheel, they start recognizing their triggers and adopting coping strategies independently, building resilience and emotional intelligence.

• Strengthens Parent-Child Bond: It provides parents with a clear framework to assist their child, ensuring the child feels supported and understood.

Get this free tool here.

_____________________________________________________

Bridging These Two Tools Together

When used in tandem, these guides serve as helpful visuals for parents and children. The first wheel aids in emotion identification, while the second offers your child a visual for actionable solutions.

Together, they ensure that emotions are not just recognized but also addressed.

How to Best Use These Tools

1. If you have 5 minutes of reading time in you right now, then read this short blog to learn more about the purpose of these two tools.

2. Start with the Color Wheel of Emotions, allowing your child to familiarize themselves with recognizing and naming their feelings.

3. Gradually introduce the second wheel, empowering them with coping mechanisms and strategies for each emotion they identify.

4. Encourage open dialogue. Every time your child uses the wheel, see it as an opportunity for a heart-to-heart conversation.

Equip Yourself with More Learning

Interested in diving deeper into emotional literacy and effective parenting strategies?

• Check out our course, "Tantrum Toolkit: A Guide for Children Meltdowns
  Course for Parents & Educators" designed for parents of any age or skill level.

• Subscribe to The Knowledge Base to stay updated and empower your parenting journey!

Conclusion

In a world that is often overwhelming, these tools are designed to increase clarity- both for the child and the parent. They’re not just tools, but gateways to self-awareness and healthy emotional growth.

At The Play Base’s Knowledge Base, we're dedicated to arming parents and children with resources that make a difference.