Powerful emotions can hit us at any time. While it’s tempting to throw a fit when things don’t go as planned, most adults have found ways to calm themselves before situations get out of hand. But for toddlers like Kayla McDowell’s son, it’s not always easy to get a grip on those feelings.
Kids need to be taught how to soothe themselves, so when her son turned 2, Kayla started giving him the tools he needed. Recently, she shared a video of him using the techniques she taught him, and the results are impressive. In fact, we could all utilize these tactics, no matter how old we are!
When the little boy begins to cry over something he wants, Kayla keeps him from melting down by having him take a few deep breaths. The child instantly goes quiet as he focuses on breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth, just as his mommy showed him. The next step is to “shake it off,” which means physically shaking his hands to alleviate the physical traces of stress. The final step is “listening ears,” so he knows his mama is actively paying attention to him.
After going through this process, he is calm enough to tell her exactly what he wants. Plus, he’s no longer frustrated, so there’s no need to cry. It’s miraculous how quickly it works!
Check out Kayla’s brilliant technique in the video below, and be sure to share this story with a busy mom or dad who could use it.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.