Emotional regulation—the ability to recognize, express, and manage one’s feelings—is one of the most critical skills young children can develop. Yet it’s also one of the most challenging. For early educators, the key to nurturing this skill lies not in control, but in coaching—a truth emphasized throughout Tammy McCrory’s Developmental Early Learning Setting Behavior Checklists Toolkit.
This powerful resource offers real-world strategies for helping children build emotional resilience, especially in high-energy early learning settings. Here are some of the top takeaways from McCrory’s work.
- Start with Emotional Literacy
Before children can regulate their emotions, they need to understand them. This starts with naming feelings and identifying what causes them.
McCrory’s Strategy: Use visuals, stories, and modeling to help children build an emotional vocabulary. Instead of saying “Calm down,” try, “I see you’re feeling angry because the blocks were taken away. Let’s find a way to fix that.”
Why It Works: When children can name their feelings, they gain power over them—and are more open to learning healthy ways to cope.
- Model Calm Responses
Children look to adults for cues on how to behave during stressful situations. That’s why McCrory emphasizes the importance of self-regulation in educators.
Try This: Narrate your own regulation: “I feel a little frustrated right now, so I’m going to take a deep breath.” Your calm response helps children feel safe and gives them a roadmap for handling emotions.
- Create a Calm-Down Space
Not all children can regulate emotions on the spot. McCrory recommends setting up a calm-down area with soft seating, calming visuals, fidget tools, or headphones.
Key Tip: Introduce this space as a positive option, not a punishment. Encourage children to use it before they escalate.
Quote from the Toolkit: “Behavioral changes may take time… Patience, consistency, and flexibility are crucial.”
- Teach Coping Strategies Explicitly
Don’t assume children know what to do when they’re overwhelmed. Teach them age-appropriate coping tools like:
- Deep breathing
- Squeezing a soft ball
- Asking for help
- Drawing or talking it out
Use these strategies in group settings so children see them as normal parts of classroom life.
- Celebrate Small Successes
McCrory reminds educators that shaping behavior takes time, and every step counts. Reinforce progress with positive reinforcement and encouragement.
Example: “You took a break and came back ready—great job calming yourself!”
Celebrating effort, not just outcomes, builds confidence and supports a growth mindset.
- Be Aware of Triggers and Individual Differences
Some children are more emotionally sensitive due to temperament, trauma, or developmental delays. Recognize that what works for one child may not work for another.
McCrory encourages professionals to observe patterns and adjust support accordingly. Sometimes, sensory needs or unmet emotional needs are the root of challenging behaviors.
Fostering emotional regulation isn’t about controlling behavior—it’s about coaching emotional intelligence. Tammy McCrory’s toolkit equips educators with the tools and mindset to do just that.
From teaching coping skills to modeling calm, every technique builds toward a safer, more supportive learning space. To access more strategies, self-reflection checklists, and case studies, get your copy of McCrory’s Developmental Early Learning Setting Behavior Checklists Toolkit at www.mccrorytoolkits.com.
Build classrooms where children don’t just behave—they belong, grow, and thrive.
