How Can We Turn Big Feelings Into Learning Moments? - post

Working in #early-childhood education often feels like being on an emotional roller-coaster with tiny humans — adorable, curious, unpredictable, and sometimes downright dramatic. But here’s the good news: many of the “chaos” moments are actually golden opportunities. With the right framework and tools, you can transform what feels like trouble into strong social-emotional #growth.

If you’re looking for practical ways to respond to behavior, design inclusive spaces, and support children through their emotional storms, three excellent resources will help:

• The course The ABCs of Behavior: Turning Challenges into Learning Opportunities offered by ChildCareEd.

• The course A Better Space for All from the same provider. 

• The article Big Feelings: Teaching Kids to Manage Difficult Emotions. 

• The resource Feelings & Fuel Jar (a printable from ChildCareEd). 

Let’s dive into how each connects with your daily practice — and sprinkle in a little humor, because yes, sometimes the tiny tornadoes make it funny too.

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1. Behavior Isn’t Just “Bad” — It’s a Message

We all know the scene: a child topples the block tower, throws the beanbag, or storms out of circle time. Your first instinct might be frustration. But the course “The ABCs of Behavior: Turning Challenges into Learning Opportunities” explains a more helpful lens: Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence (ABC) framework. 

• Antecedent: What happened just before. Maybe the child was hungry, tired, or asked to do something unexpected.

• Behavior: The visible action — the “problem.”

• Consequence: What followed. Did the behavior get the desired attention? Escape from the task?

By understanding these links, you can respond not just to the behavior but address the root. For example: the child who keeps leaving the group circle might be overstimulated, needing a quieter spot rather than being asked to “sit still.”

This course helps providers replace “punish the behavior” with “understand the need” — paving the way for self-regulation, predictable guidance, and fewer surprises.

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2. The Space Matters — Inclusion, Access & Belonging

A shoutout to every provider who’s ever rearranged cots in a panic to accommodate a new child: yes, the space matters. The “A Better Space for All ” course guides you in crafting environments where every child feels valued, included, and empowered. 

Key take-aways:

• An inclusive space isn’t just about “adding a special chair” — it’s about designing with diversity in mind: age, ability, #culture.

• Scaffolding means providing supports so children engage at their level.

• Physical layout, visual cues, routines, accessible materials — all these feed into children’s ability to thrive.

When the space works for children, your job becomes less about managing behavior and more about facilitating their growth.

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3. Big Feelings? Bring It On. (Sort of.)

It’s not just “behavior” anymore — kids come with big feelings, internal storms, and emotional waves. The article “Big Feelings: Teaching Kids to Manage Difficult Emotions” outlines how emotional regulation is foundational for #healthy #development. 

As a provider, you’re doing more than teaching shapes and letters—you’re helping children name their feelings, learn to pause before reacting, and build resilience. Tips from the article: model your own responses (“I feel frustrated—I’m going to take a breath”), use feeling-words, create #safe spaces for #expression.

And that’s where the “Feelings & Fuel Jar” comes in: a practical tool to help children link their “fuel” ( #sleep, snack, calm environment) and their “feelings” ( #happy, tired, frustrated) to their ability to learn and engage. 

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😂 When Big Feelings Take Over: How to Co-Regulate Instead of Control

Picture this: it’s circle time. A four-year-old announces loudly that the carpet squares are “WRONG” color (and must be rearranged by “the universe’s will”). A #toddler is wailing because she lost her blue spoon. The snack table has become an impromptu drumming zone. Sound familiar?

When big feelings take over, control is tempting — but here’s the secret: co-regulation works better than control.

• Control = You tell them: “Stop crying. Sit down.”

• Co-regulation = You sit beside them, say: “I see you’re upset. Would you like some space or maybe a drink of water?”

You’re not the sheriff of emotions—you’re the calm sidekick, the co-pilot through the storm.

Try this in the moment: take a slow, audible breath (they’re watching you). Say: “I’m feeling a bit tired right now, so I’m going to take three deep breaths. Do you want to join me?” You’ve just modeled regulation.

Then you might pull out your “Feelings & Fuel Jar” later and ask: “What was your fuel like before snack time? Did we skip our snack? Are our feelings connected to our fuel today?”

And yes — cue the moment when a child says, “I didn’t have breakfast but I really needed to drum to express my universe’s will.” Your response: “That’s a big feeling. Let’s get some fuel and check in.”

Humor helps. Acknowledge the absurd: “I didn’t plan on the drum-solo today, but hey—let’s channel that into some movement outside instead of the snack table.” This lightens tension and reminds everyone we’re human.

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4. Bringing It All Together: Your Professional Growth

So here’s your action plan:

• Take the “ABCs of Behavior” course to deepen your understanding of behavior as communication.

• Explore the “Better Space for All” course to make your physical and emotional #classroom-environment inclusive and calming.

• Use the “Big Feelings” article and the “Feelings & Fuel Jar” tool to build emotional literacy and regulation in children.

By integrating behavior understanding + inclusive space design + emotional regulation, you’re not just surviving the day—you’re actively shaping children’s development, well-being, and joy.

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✨ Final Thoughts: From Mayhem to Meaningful

Child care is messy, noisy, full of spilled paint and tiny arguments over blue cups. But beneath the surface is meaning. Each meltdown, each thrown block, each refused transition is not just a challenge—it’s a signal. A child saying: I need something. Maybe fuel. Maybe calm. Maybe more control.

With the right tools and mindset, you move from reacting to reflecting, from controlling to co-regulating, from chaos to connection.

As you continue this journey, remember: you matter. The calm you bring, the space you create, the way you listen—these shape young lives in powerful ways.

Stay curious. Stay compassionate. And yes—stay caffeinated. Because somewhere between circle time and snack time, you’re doing absolutely meaningful work.

At ChildCareEd.com, we understand that ongoing education is the lifeblood of a high-quality program. That is why we are proud to be IAECT accredited, ensuring our course content is relevant, evidence-based, and of the highest caliber. Every successful completion of a ChildCareEd.com course provides you with essential ECUs (Education Credit Units), furthering your professional standing and competence. Taking the time to invest in courses that focus on responsive planning and inclusion is not just fulfilling a requirement; it is an active investment in the life outcomes of the children you serve. By planning with purpose, you create a classroom where every single child is seen, valued, and positioned for success.

For fresh ideas, curriculum inspiration, and educator encouragement, be sure to follow ChildCareEd.com on Instagram#abc#early-childhood-education