What Children Need to Understand About Emotions and How to Manage Them

All students need a developmentally appropriate level of emotional competency for academic success and good mental health. Although skills associated with our emotions may seem simple, they actually consist of a complex set of competencies. During the elementary and middle school years, parents and teachers can help children master the skills necessary to avoid emotional delay and difficulties later on. When children master skills associated with emotional competency, they can be in the driver’s seat and deal successfully with difficult emotions and situations. This chapter delineates the understandings and skills needed for age-appropriate emotional regulation.