Video narration
When your child cries or shouts, your body tenses and voice rises. Their big emotion pulls you in, until you're overwhelmed too. You cannot offer calm while your reaction is escalating. Pause, breathe, lower your voice, and steady yourself before connecting. That is co-regulation: calm they can lean on. Calm responses build emotional intelligence. Self-regulation isn't perfection; it's enough steadiness to stay connected. When the meltdown starts, regulate yourself first. Your calm helps your child learn calm too.