Teaching Your Toddler Coping Skills

Teaching toddlers to cope with their emotions is a vital part of their emotional development. Introducing coping skills during calm moments—rather than in the midst of a meltdown—helps toddlers learn to manage their feelings effectively and independently.

When to Introduce Coping Skills

It's best to introduce coping skills during everyday activities or playful interactions. This ensures that the skills are taught in a positive and receptive environment. For example, practicing "dragon breaths" during a calm moment allows the skill to become a familiar tool that your toddler can later recall during more stressful times.

Techniques for Managing Toddler Emotions

• Learning through Stories and Drama: Use toddler-aged books and role-playing games to teach about feelings and appropriate ways to express them. This method helps toddlers understand and articulate their emotions in a fun and engaging way.

  Using Our Words: Encourage your toddler to use words to express how they feel. Start by modeling this behavior yourself; describe your own emotions and gently label your toddler's feelings. This helps them learn to communicate their emotions effectively.

  “I” Statements: Teach your toddler to use “I” statements to express their feelings in a clear and non-blaming way. For example:

  • "I feel sad right now. Can I get a hug?"

  • "I’m mad right now. I don’t want to be hugged."

  These statements empower your toddler to express their needs without creating defensiveness in others.

  Physical and Creative Outlets for Coping

  Get Physical: Activities like jumping jacks, hitting a pillow, or squishing playdough provide physical outlets for feelings of stress, anger, or excitement.

  Healing with Nature: Incorporate nature into your routine to help your toddler work through emotions. Simple activities like walking or biking in natural settings can be incredibly therapeutic.

  Visual Arts: Encourage your toddler to use art to express themselves. Drawing, painting, or scribbling can help toddlers communicate feelings they may not yet have the words for.

  Enhanced Breathing Exercises for Toddlers

  Breathing exercises are crucial for helping toddlers manage emotions and stress. Teaching these during calm periods can significantly improve their ability to cope during more challenging moments.

  1. Smell the Rose: Teach your toddler to inhale deeply through their nose as if smelling a rose. Enhance this exercise by using real or artificially scented flowers to make the experience more engaging and sensory.

  2. Blow Out the Candle: Encourage your toddler to exhale slowly as if they are blowing out a candle. This helps them learn to use breath control to calm down. Practicing with a real candle under supervision can add a fun and realistic touch.

  3. Dragon Breathing: For a more dynamic approach, have your toddler imagine being a fire-breathing dragon. Taking a deep breath in and exhaling powerfully can be a playful way to release stress.

  Combining Techniques: Once your toddler is comfortable, combine smelling the rose and blowing out the candle into a full breath cycle: inhale through the nose for four counts, hold for one, then exhale through the mouth for four counts. This full cycle helps them manage their physiological responses to emotions effectively.

  Daily Integration

  Incorporate these breathing exercises into your daily routines, such as during bedtime or as a transition activity. Regular practice will help your toddler become familiar with using these techniques independently when they feel overwhelmed or stressed.