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Child Development

Big feelings, small people: coaching emotions through play

12 December 2025 · 4 min read

The part of the brain that manages impulse is still under construction throughout the early years. Expecting consistent self-control from a three-year-old is like expecting a sprint from someone still learning to walk.

Name the feeling before solving the problem. 'You are furious that the tower fell' lands better than 'It's only blocks'. Naming lowers the intensity.

Rehearse in calm moments. Puppets, stories and role play let children practise disappointment when nothing is actually at stake.

Repair matters more than perfection. Adults lose patience too; showing a child how to come back and reconnect teaches something no lesson can.

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