The Key to Understanding Emotional Regulation: What You Need to Know
- claire2876
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Emotional regulation[i] or emotion regulation is the ability to manage, respond to and identify how we are feeling. This is a skill we learn in order to best respond to the ongoing demands of experiences in a manner that is socially tolerable and well adjustable to enable instinctive reactions as well as the ability to delay automatic reactions as needed.
WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?
Emotions are intended mental reactions (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feelings usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioural changes in the body.
WHAT OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST’S DO TO IMPROVE EMOTIONAL REGULATION?
Shoalhaven OT works with a wide range of clients with varying ages and capacities, this means when working with our clients on emotional regulation the goals, resources and activities can look very different[ii]. This following is an overview on what is commonly worked on in our sessions.
Preschool ages:
WHAT TO EXPECT:
● Identifying emotions in themselves and others
● Identifying what makes them calm
● Practicing and implement calming activities – including sensory play including lights, exploring different textures and sounds and movement
● Exploring and becoming familiar with the five senses (visual, auditory, oral, olfactory, tactile)
GOALS:
Recognizing emotions
Learning to identify what make them feel calm
Familiarity with five senses
ACTIVITIY IDEAS:
Identifying emotions, using cards, images, and self-expressions.
Develop recognition of impact of emotional responses on self and others
Exploring a range of regulation tools including calming strategies, movements and sensory toys
Playing games involving taking turns, reciprocal play and following instructions
GAME IDEAS:
Red light, green light
Obstacle courses
Craft
Twister
Emotional charades
Primary ages:
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Learning and practice to implement calming strategies.
● Learning how to identify emotions.
● Challenge their processing skills.
● Encouraging building on and implanting their own regulation strategies ad activities.
● Exploring five senses and building skills of using sensory stimulation to effective calm themselves
● Communicating emotions to others appropriately
GOALS:
Self-monitoring
Self-instruction
Goal-setting.
Encouraging practice of calming strategies and regulation skills
ACTIVITY IDEAS:
Identifying emotions and emotional responses in self and others
Improve self-control and emotional control
Learning self-regulation tools
GAMES IDEAS:
Emotions and Situation Game Boards
Emotional Twister Helps Children
Freeze Dance
“Emotions” Easter Egg Hunt
Music
Brain Games
Emotional Charades
High school ages:
WHAT TO EXPECT:
● Learning calming strategies.
● Learning how to label feelings and emotions.
● Challenge their processing skills.
● Identify what emotion (or group of emotions) they are feeling.
Validate the reason they are feeling that way and allow them the space to feel their emotions.
Deep Breath and re-centre.
Problem Solve.
GOALS:
Identifies the emotional response to a given situation.
Describes feelings or mood when prompted.
Practice calming strategies to regulate emotion.
Practice methods to reduce anxiety and stress.
Manages frustration appropriately.
RESOURCES & ACTIVITES:
GAME IDEAS:
Uno (Play the classic Uno game with a Zones twist. Identify emotions or strategies each time they change the colour in the game.)
Qwirkle (This is a great visual perception game that includes shapes in the Zone’s colours. Label emotion or strategy as you add coloured tiles.)
Pop up pirate (Students must label an emotion or strategy each time a new coloured sword is added.)
Jenga ( Label each block red, yellow, green, or blue with markers or tape, you can also add the names of each zone. Each time a student pulls a piece they must tell an emotion or strategy for that zone.)
Headbandz (Replace cards with emotions or strategies. Children give clues to help their partner figure out which emotion or strategy they are wearing. )
Guess who
Blocks (While building and creating with any 4 colour blocks, students can name emotions and strategies for each colour.)
Adults:
WHAT TO EXPECT
Self-monitoring
Self-instruction
Goal-setting.
Self-reinforcement.
GOALS:
Identifies the emotional response to a given situation.
Describes feelings or mood when prompted.
Practice calming strategies to regulate emotion.
Practice methods to reduce anxiety and stress.
Manages frustration appropriately.
RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES:
GAME IDEAS:
Uno (Play the classic Uno game. Identify emotions or strategies each time they change the colour in the game.)
Jenga (help with patience, and learning about winning and losing)
Headbandz (Replace cards with emotions or strategies. give clues to help their partner figure out which emotion or strategy they are wearing. )
Guess who
Blocks (While building and creating with any 4 colour blocks, you can name emotions and strategies for each colour)
RESOURCES:
Create space
Noticing what you feel
Naming what you feel
Accepting the emotion
Practising mindfulness
breathing exercises
what is expected… worksheets
growth mindset
How can we help?
To submit a referral head to the website: Make a Referral and submit a referral online. Alternatively, you can call the office on 44216013 and they can assist you to make a referral.
We also run a range of group programs, such as social skills groups which can assist with developing social skills and emotional regulation. To book follow the link: Group Programs
Other resources:
