15 Christ-Centered Strategies for Teaching Kids to Manage Big Emotions

Discover 15 practical and effective Christ-Centered strategies for teaching your kids to manage big emotions. From developing a strong foundation in God’s Word to cultivating healthy coping skills and seeking Christian professional help when needed, this post offers valuable insights and guidance for Christian parents.

Hey there! Have you ever had one of those days where your emotions just seem to get the best of you? I know I have! And when we’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be tough not to overreact to things that don’t go our way.

Now, imagine how tough it can be for our kids when they’re feeling all the big emotions too! Sometimes, they might not know how to handle everything they’re feeling inside. And that’s okay, because even us adults struggle with it sometimes!

If you have a little one who seems to react strongly to everything, don’t worry. It’s not always intentional, and there are ways to help them manage those big feelings.

That’s where the My God Says Life Journal comes in!

This journal has strategies for teaching your kids to manage big emotions, but more importantly, it points them towards God’s truth. We were made to feel things, and that’s okay! But having a strong foundation in God’s Word can really help us manage our emotions in a healthy way and not be led by them.

The My God Says Life Journal covers 15 different topics where God’s truth can be the foundation for our children’s thinking and emotions. And the best part? It’s on sale right now! You can save $16 on the bundle for a limited time, which includes the journal, cards, and stickers. 

Acknowledge Your Child’s Big Emotions

Teaching our kids how to cope with big feelings can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly important and one of the main keys to teaching your kids to manage big emotions. 

One of the most important things we can do as parents is to validate our children’s feelings. When they’re upset, we can help them feel heard and understood by simply acknowledging what they’re feeling. For example, “I can see that you’re feeling really frustrated right now. That’s okay, it’s normal to feel that way sometimes.”

As Christian parents, we believe that teaching our children how to manage their emotions is not only important for their well-being, but also for their spiritual growth.

15 Christ-Centered Strategies for Teaching Kids to Manage Big Emotions

Here are some tips and strategies that can help our kids cope with big feelings in a Christ-Centered Way:

Pray together:

Prayer should always be the first line of defense. When our kids are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated or angry encourage them to turn to God in prayer. Pray with them and help them see that God is always with them, even in the midst of big emotions.

Read, Decree and Declare Scripture:

Scripture is a powerful tool for managing emotions. Encourage your child to renew their mind with the Word of God and speak to their struggles, such as Psalm 34:4, which says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” I recently found this app called Shut Up, Devil. It has a list of Common issues that we deal with like, anger, anxiety, discouragement, fear, impatience and more. You choose your current struggle and it has a bunch of scriptures and declarations for you to speak. It’s pretty cool!

Model emotional regulation:

Our children learn from our example, so it’s important that we model healthy emotional regulation. This can be a tough one, but we are supposed to be the grown up. We aren’t perfect, but we can learn to control those big emotions so our kids don’t learn to react poorly, like mom and dad. When we’re feeling upset or frustrated, we can demonstrate how to manage those feelings in a healthy way.

Discuss the fruits of the Spirit:

The fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – can serve as a guide for managing emotions. Talk with your child about these fruits and how they can help us navigate difficult big emotions. Each of these words are power words, we learn to walk in them, they are a choice. If we aren’t operating in one of these words we are out of what we are called to do as believers.

Use Christian resources for teaching kids to manage big emotions:

There are many Christian resources available that can help our children learn how to manage their emotions in a healthy way. The My God Says Life Journal, for example, is designed to help kids manage their feelings and emotions while pointing them to the truth of God’s Word. Maximize your savings when you purchase the My God Says Bundle. No coupon needed to save $16 off the regular bundle price (limited time). 

Encourage forgiveness:

Forgiveness is an important part of managing emotions. Encourage your child to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us. This can help them let go of anger and resentment and experience the peace that comes from forgiveness.

Serve others when Teaching Kids To Manage Big Emotions:

Serving others is a great way to shift the focus from our own emotions to the needs of others. Encourage your child to look for opportunities to serve in your community or church.

Trust in God’s plan:

Ultimately, our trust in God’s plan can help us manage difficult emotions. Encourage your child to place their trust in God and seek His guidance during times of emotional turmoil. We should also trust God’s plan for our kids and and lay them at the feet of Jesus everyday. We can’t control or change everything in our kids’ lives, we need to remember we have to lean on God for everything, including this.

Foster open communication:

Encourage your child to talk openly about their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Let them know that they can come to you without fear of judgment or punishment. Listen actively, validate their feelings, and provide support and guidance when needed. Unless they ask for you to help with the solution, just listen.

Practice gratitude:

Encourage your child to cultivate a grateful heart by regularly expressing thankfulness for the blessings in their lives. This can help shift their focus away from negative emotions and toward the positive aspects of life. Download this Free Thankfulness Journal. 

Encourage self-care:

Teach your child the importance of self-care in managing those big emotions. This might look like getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and engaging in hobbies or activities that bring joy and relaxation. If you kid has a messy room, help them organize and declutter it. Having a clean and organized space to relax in is pretty important to a lot of kids, but they may just not know where to start or feel overwhelmed with the idea. 

Develop coping skills:

Help your child develop healthy coping skills for managing difficult emotions. This may include telling them to take a deep breaths, decreeing the Word of God, journaling, or creative expression. This prayer journal and habit tracker would be a great help! 

Teach problem-solving skills:

Encourage your child to develop problem-solving skills to help them address the underlying issues that may be contributing to their difficult emotions. This may involve brainstorming solutions, setting goals, and taking action to achieve them.

Seek professional help when Teaching Kids To Manage Big Emotions:

If your child is going through some tough emotional times—those moments that just seem to never end or feel way too big to handle—don’t wait to reach out for help. A Vaughan therapist, a trusted counselor, or even your pastor could be exactly what your family needs right now. These caring professionals are ready to offer the kind of support that’s perfectly tailored to your child’s unique situation. It’s all about finding a safe place where your child can feel understood and work through those big feelings. Getting the right kind of help can make all the difference in the world for your child’s happiness and growth.

Cultivate a supportive community while Teaching Kids to Manage Big Emotions:

Help your child develop strong relationships with peers, mentors, and other members of your church or homeschool community. This can provide a sense of belonging, support, and encouragement that can be invaluable in managing big emotions.

Teaching Kids to Manage Big Emotions is Our Responsibility

As Christian parents, we have the privilege and responsibility of helping our children grow in faith and emotional maturity. By providing them with a strong foundation in God’s Word, modeling healthy emotional regulation, and providing support and guidance as needed, we can help our children navigate even the biggest of emotions with grace, wisdom, and love.

Incorporating these strategies into our daily lives for teaching your kids to manage big emotions can help our children grow in their faith while learning to manage their emotions in a healthy way. Remember, God is always with us and He can help us navigate even the biggest of emotions.

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!