Supporting Big Emotions in Kids
Big feelings don’t need fixing — they need space, safety, movement, and connection. Wild Sprouts gives families a playful way to move through emotions, together.
Supporting Big Emotions in Kids: How to Use Movement for Emotional Regulation
A simple, movement-based way to help your child feel safe, seen, and supported during meltdowns. You’ve been there. Your child is melting down — fists clenched, tears flowing, voice raised.
You try to stay calm, but nothing you say seems to help.
Sound familiar? That’s because when big emotions take over, kids aren’t processing with the part of their brain that hears logic and direction. Their nervous system has taken the wheel — putting them in fight, flight, or freeze mode.
In those moments, words like “calm down” or “use your words” can feel like static noise. Not because they’re being difficult… But because their body is trying to protect them from a perceived threat — even if it’s just the cereal being the wrong shape.
What’s Happening in Your Child’s Brain and Body?
Emotional regulation starts in the nervous system. When kids feel overwhelmed or unsafe, their body activates the stress response — the same system that keeps us alive when we sense danger. Heart rate increases. Breathing gets shallow. Muscles tighten. The brain diverts energy away from the prefrontal cortex (the rational thinking part) and into the amygdala (the emotional response center). This is totally normal — but also why reasoning with a dysregulated child rarely works in the moment. What they need isn’t more explanation. It’s co-regulation — a grounded, present adult to help them move through the intensity and return to safety.
Why Movement Works
This is where Wild Sprouts comes in — a deck of movement-based cards designed to support emotional regulation in kids through playful, body-led practices inspired by somatic wisdom.
Think:
🦋 Butterfly Hugs
🐘 Elephant Stomps
🦍 Gorilla Taps
These simple movements engage the nervous system through rhythm, breath, and gentle activation — which helps shift your child from chaos to calm. When you build familiarity with these movements during everyday moments, they become accessible tools during emotional storms.
Practice During the Calm
One of the biggest mistakes we make as parents is trying to introduce new tools during a meltdown. The truth? In the heat of the moment, kids need familiarity, not novelty. Wild Sprouts works best when it’s woven into your everyday rhythms:
Start the day with a Giraffe Stretch to wake up the body
Try a Butterfly Hug during story time to invite calm and focus
Stomp it out in the backyard before dinner to release extra energy
Use Dragon Breath as part of your bedtime routine to wind down
The more often your child experiences these tools in safe, calm settings, the more likely they are to reach for them during distress.
What to Do When Emotions Are Big
Here’s how to gently bring Wild Sprouts into the moment when your child is overwhelmed:
1. Name the Feeling
Start by validating what they’re going through.
“It looks like you’re feeling angry right now — and that’s okay.”
You’re not trying to stop the feeling — you’re helping their brain recognize it.
Want help with activities that can support kids in identifying their emotions?
Check out this great list of Zones of Regulation Activities from We Are Teachers for fun, practical ideas to build emotional awareness.
2. Let the Release Happen
Crying, stomping, shouting — that’s the nervous system discharging energy.
As long as everyone’s safe, let it flow.
Try grounding yourself by placing a hand on your heart or taking a few slow breaths. Your energy matters more than your words.
3. Offer a Movement Invitation
Once the wave starts to settle, gently invite connection.
Say something like: “Want to try a Puppy Shake with me?” / “I’m going to do a Bear Push — you can join if you want.”
No pressure. Just presence.
4. Model It Yourself
This is big.
If your child sees you using movement to regulate your emotions, they’ll be much more open to trying it themselves.
Try doing a few Wild Sprouts cards even if your child isn't ready — they’re watching.
The Power of Co-Regulation
Kids don’t learn emotional regulation from being told what to do. They learn it from being seen, held, and guided by someone who is modeling what safety feels like. When you use Wild Sprouts together — not as a “fix,” but as a shared practice — you build a connection-based approach to regulation.
You’re not disciplining the feeling.
You’re walking through it together.
And that’s powerful.
Want to learn more about why co-regulation is so important? Check out this great article from Bearfoot Occupational Therapy: What Does It Mean to Co-Regulate with Your Child—And Why It Matters.
Real-Life Moments to Use Wild Sprouts
Still wondering when to bring this into your day?
Here are just a few real-life moments where Wild Sprouts shines:
Before transitions (school drop-offs, bedtime, leaving the park)
After sibling squabbles or a toy disagreement
When your child says “I’m bored” and you can sense the energy building
In the car — yes, even movement can happen with seatbelts on!
After screen time to help their body reset
Each of these is a chance to connect, regulate, and model healthy emotional habits — all through simple, playful movement.
Why Parents Love It
Parents using Wild Sprouts share that:
Their kids are learning to recognize emotions
Tantrums feel less overwhelming
They feel more confident knowing what to do when big feelings hit
It brings more fun and connection into their routine
One mom shared:
“We use Wild Sprouts every night before bed. My daughter now asks to do a Butterfly Hug when she’s upset. I didn’t think something so simple could be so powerful.”
Try Wild Sprouts Today
Looking for a tool that supports your child’s emotional health without adding more stress to your plate?
Wild Sprouts is a beautiful deck of movement-based cards designed to help kids (and grown-ups!) move through big feelings in a healthy, connected way.
It’s gentle.
It’s science-backed.
And it’s actually fun.
Perfect for your kitchen table, classroom, bedtime routine — or those tough moments in between.
👉 Get Wild Sprouts here and start building a regulation toolkit your whole family can count on.
