Helping Children Build Emotional Regulation Skills Through Speech, OT & ABA Therapy
Big emotions are a normal part of childhood, but for some children, understanding, expressing, and managing emotions can feel overwhelming.
Children may experience frustration, anxiety, anger, sadness, or overstimulation without yet having the skills to explain what they’re feeling or how to cope with it appropriately. Emotional regulation is not something children simply “grow out of”, it’s a skill that develops over time with support, practice, and guidance.
At Jackson Jade Therapy, we support children in developing emotional awareness, communication, coping strategies, and self-regulation skills through Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy (OT) and ABA therapy.
What Is Emotional Regulation?
Emotional regulation is a child’s ability to:
Recognize emotions
Understand what they are feeling
Express emotions appropriately
Manage reactions and behaviors
Recover from stress or frustration
When children struggle with emotional regulation, it can show up as:
Meltdowns or emotional outbursts
Difficulty transitioning between activities
Trouble calming down
Aggression or withdrawal
Anxiety or frustration
Challenges with social interactions
The good news is these are skills that can be taught and strengthened over time.
How Speech Therapy Supports Emotional Regulation
Communication and emotional regulation are closely connected.
Speech therapy can help children:
Build emotional vocabulary
Express needs and feelings clearly
Improve social communication skills
Understand nonverbal communication and social cues
Reduce frustration caused by communication barriers
When children can better communicate how they feel, emotional overwhelm often decreases.
How Occupational Therapy (OT) Helps
Occupational Therapy supports emotional regulation by helping children better understand and manage their sensory and nervous system responses.
OT can help children:
Identify emotional triggers
Develop calming strategies
Improve transitions and routines
Learn coping tools for stress and overwhelm
Build body awareness and self-regulation skills
Children often benefit from sensory tools and structured strategies that help them feel more safe, calm, and regulated throughout the day.
How ABA Therapy Supports Emotional & Behavioral Skills
ABA therapy can help children develop practical emotional and behavioral coping strategies through individualized support and skill-building.
This may include:
Identifying emotions
Practicing coping strategies
Developing flexible thinking skills
Improving social interactions
Building positive replacement behaviors
Strengthening communication and independence
By teaching children how to respond to emotions in healthy ways, they gain greater confidence navigating everyday situations.
Books That Help Children Understand Emotions
Stories can be powerful tools for teaching emotional literacy. Some helpful books include:
📖 The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
📖 In My Heart by Jo Witek
📖 The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
📖 Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia
📖 When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Reading together creates opportunities to talk about feelings, coping skills, and emotional experiences in a safe and supportive way.
Supporting Emotional Growth
Helping children understand emotions is not about eliminating big feelings, it’s about teaching them that emotions are safe, manageable, and important to talk about.
With the right support, children can build the tools they need to communicate, regulate emotions, navigate social situations, and feel more confident in themselves.
