At Jenny’s Early Learning Centre, we understand that the toddler years are full of wonder, discovery… and emotion. Every day, children in our care are learning so much: how to dress themselves, how to share, how to use the toilet, how to take turns, how the world works – and just as importantly, how to understand and manage their emotions.

From joy and excitement to frustration and sadness, these “big feelings” can often feel overwhelming for little people. That’s because emotional regulation – the ability to recognise, understand, and manage feelings – is a skill that develops over time. And it’s one that children learn best with the guidance of calm, caring adults.

Our educators support children through these moments every day – with warmth, consistency, and compassion. We’ve put together some gentle, practical tips to help you do the same at home:

Be the Calm in Their Storm

When your child is experiencing a big emotion, one of the most powerful things you can do is stay calm. Children often look to trusted adults to gauge how to react – much like the moment after a fall, when they pause and glance up to see if it’s “okay” to cry.

Rather than matching their energy or rushing to fix things, try taking a few deep breaths and anchoring yourself. Speak in a soft, steady tone. Your calm presence helps them to feel safe – even when their own emotions feel chaotic.

Connection First

At Jenny’s, our educators always prioritise connection before correction. Getting down to your child’s level, offering gentle eye contact, or resting a hand on their shoulder can all help reassure them they’re not alone.

You might not be able to hug a hurricane mid-meltdown – but being physically close, and emotionally available, can help the storm pass more quickly.

Offer Small Choices

Many toddler meltdowns stem from feeling out of control. Offering small, meaningful choices – like “Would you like to wear the red socks or the blue ones?” – can help your child feel seen and heard.

This approach is used across Jenny’s centres to empower children in decision-making and reduce power struggles, all while strengthening trust.

Create a Calm-Down Space

In our rooms at Jenny’s, you’ll often find quiet, cosy corners filled with soft furnishings, books, and sensory resources. These spaces offer children a place to reset when they’re feeling overwhelmed – and the same idea works beautifully at home.

Try setting up a ‘calm corner’ with a few pillows, a favourite soft toy, or a picture book. Knowing there’s a safe place to retreat to can be incredibly comforting for young children.

Name the Emotion

Helping children to recognise and label their feelings is an important step towards emotional literacy. When you name the emotion, you’re showing your child that you see them – and helping them build the vocabulary to express themselves.

At Jenny’s, we might say:
“I can see you’re feeling frustrated – that puzzle is tricky, isn’t it?”
Or, when they’re calming down:
“You took some deep breaths when things felt hard – that was really clever of you.”

Naming the moment helps your child make sense of their internal world, and gives them the words they need next time.

To support this learning at home, we’re also making available one of the emotions charts our educators use in the room. It’s a visual guide that helps children recognise and name what they’re feeling – and it can be a fantastic tool to use during tricky moments.
Download your copy here

It’s a Journey, Not a Sprint

Learning to regulate emotions doesn’t happen overnight – and as adults, we’re still learning too. The key is patience, practice, and presence. Just as our educators do every day, try to meet your child where they are, and respond with empathy.

At Jenny’s ELC, we’re here to partner with you on this journey. If you ever want to talk through strategies or challenges, your child’s educator is only a conversation away.

Why not book in a one-on-one with your child’s educator? Together, we can work towards helping your child develop lifelong skills in confidence, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.