Words for Big Feelings
Know and use the key words for managing big feelings — calm, strategy, cope, settle, patience, overwhelmed, and breathe — and understand that having words for these ideas is the first step to using them
Typical age: 5–8 years
“When your child is feeling really upset or frustrated, can they use words like 'I need to calm down' or 'I'm feeling overwhelmed' instead of just acting out?”
0 / 3 mastered
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Needs first
Nothing — this is a great starting point!
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- Coping with Life Changes
Coping with change draws on vocabulary like 'cope', 'strategy', and 'settle'
- Simple Calming StrategiesREQUIRED
Calming strategies (calm, breathe, settle) rely on knowing this vocabulary to name and apply the techniques
- Patience and Delayed GratificationREQUIRED
Patience and waiting practice requires understanding the vocabulary of coping and managing big feelings
- Learning from Mistakes
Framing mistakes as learning uses the vocabulary of feelings management and coping with setback