Navigating Big Emotions

Information, Tools, and Resources

We all get overwhelmed! Here are some tips

Cookie breathing - Relaxation tool for kids

Roller coaster breathing - tool for kids, youth and adults

Name the Rainbow- Relaxation/distraction tool for kids

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Video: The Hand Model of the Brain

Daniel Siegel MD

This video helps understand and explain how our emotions and brain are connected- and with a simple explanation. The upstairs downstairs brain helps to explain for kids (and adults) what happens when our emotions get big.

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Book: The Whole Brained Child

By Daniel Siegel MD and Tina Payne Bryson Ph.D

Filled with strategies to support you child's developing brain. Dr. Siegal brings together neuroscience and emotions to help us understand what happens when our emotions get big.

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Video: Upstairs Downstairs Brain

By Jenny Ginsburg

A lovely addition of a ladder to Dr Siegal's hand model of the brain. This helps provide a simple explanation to kids of what goes on when those big emotions pop up.

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TED: The Single Most Important Parenting Strategy

Dr Becky Kennedy

She offers practical ways to

navigate parenting guilt while modeling conversations that build stronger connections—skills that apply to all relationships. It’s never too late to reconnect.

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Real Dads with Brad Moser

I am honoured to have been on the Real Dads podcast with Brad Moser, a previous colleague of mine. Join us for a discussion about emotional regulation; what it looks like, how it affects kids ‘development, and what parents can do to help their kids learn how to self-regulate.

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