Emotional regulation skills are important for children. These skills help them manage their feelings and respond in healthy ways. Children learn these skills over time, and there are different stages in their development.

Stages of Development

1. Early Childhood (0-5 years):

   • At this age, kids mostly depend on their parents or caregivers for emotional support.
   • Research shows that around 70-80% of how children learn to manage their emotions comes from their interactions with adults.
   • By the time they are about 3 years old, many children start to find ways to calm themselves down.

2. Middle Childhood (6-12 years):

   • During these years, children start to understand emotions better. They can recognize feelings in themselves and in others, too.
   • By age 7, many kids can show a wide range of emotions and use simple ways to deal with them. This includes things like distracting themselves or talking about how they feel.

3. Adolescence (13-19 years):

   • Teenagers begin to become more independent in handling their feelings. They start using more mature ways to manage their emotions.
   • Studies suggest that around 85% of teens feel they are better at dealing with stress compared to when they were younger.

Influencing Factors

• Parental Involvement: When parents give lots of emotional support, it helps children cope better with their feelings. Research shows that caring parenting often leads to better emotional skills.

• Peer Relationships: As kids spend time with friends, they learn how to work through disagreements and understand emotions better.

• Cultural Context: Different cultures have their own ways of expressing feelings, which can influence how children learn to manage their emotions.

In short, learning emotional regulation skills takes time, but it is really important for children's mental health and how they connect with others.