Okay, parents! When your child seems to be frustrated, what do they do? Do they scream, cry or show tantrums? Do they get silent? It can vary from child to child! But, what do you have to say about it? Do you believe that these are just “bad behaviors”? If you think so, you are making a big mistake! These are actually the signals. Signals that a child is struggling with emotional regulation and needs some extra support and care!
The term, emotional regulation means one’s ability to understand, proceed, and correctly express their emotions in a supposedly/constructive manner. For this, the child needs to develop skills to recognize and understand how different emotions work!
Children who master emotional regulation skills have the ability to handle different challenges effectively! They can understand the situations, and cope with stress. These skills also help them maintain positive relationships, and engage with their parents, caregivers, teachers, peers and other people in appropriate behaviors.
Occupational therapists(OT) in Dubai always prioritize these emotional regulations and they design the therapy in such a manner that it teaches children to have better control over their emotions.
When Emotions Take Over
Okay, imagine a child who becomes overwhelmed every time something doesn’t go as they wished! Any small change in routine may turn into a full meltdown. Now, this frustration leads to hitting or kicking or something else. They feel a sort of anxiety that keeps them from joining activities they once loved.
NOTE: This isn’t defiance. It’s a cry for help.
Children do not know how to manage big emotions. That’s why they struggle more than others. Kids who have sensory processing challenges, ADHD, or autism, often struggle with emotional regulation. It’s not their fault! They need support from expert occupational therapists who better understand their situations, figure out the reasons that usually trigger their emotions and teach them to have good control over them.
How OTs Can Make a Difference
Teach Coping Strategies
Children don’t know how to calm themselves when emotions run high. OTs come up with different coping strategies like deep breathing, sensory breaks, and movement-based activities. Deep breathing exercises can slow the heart rate and relax the body, and help a child regain control in stressful moments. Different movements, like jumping or stretching, can also release built-up tension and refocus attention. These techniques help to self-regulate and reduce emotional outbursts.
Create Safe Spaces
A child can only learn, engage, or grow if they feel safe and understood. Emotional regulation can work when there is a supportive environment where the child will not be judged or punished. OTs can create these calm-down corners filled with soft cushions, sensory-friendly objects, dim lighting, etc. They can also guide parents how to create such a safe and relaxing environment at home because this helps reduce anxiety, and the child feels emotionally secure.
Use Play-Based Therapy
Children communicate and learn the best through play-based activities. Play-based therapy allows OTs to teach emotional regulation in a more natural way. Role-playing scenarios, storytelling, and interactive games—all can be helpful for those little children to understand different emotions and how to express them appropriately.
Work with Parents and Teachers
Emotional regulation is not something a child learns only during the therapy—it’s a lifelong skill that must be reinforced at home and in school. That’s why OTs collaborate with parents and teachers to make sure the child receives consistent support in all environments. They involve parents and teachers in the therapy plan and explain simple strategies—like using emotion charts, practicing calming techniques, modeling healthy emotional responses, etc.
Final Words
It’s okay if you have any queries related to occupational therapy or how it can actually help your child regulate emotions!
We encourage you to book a consultation with one of our board-certified occupational therapists in Dubai now!
We have the most qualified therapists, having years of experience dealing with children with neurological, physical and other mental or behavioral conditions.
We offer one-of-a-kind occupational therapy treatments that target the unique needs of the child.
For more information, do visit our website or social media channels!
