Big Emotions?
If you’ve ever experienced moments like these, you are not alone:
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Your child has a meltdown over something small
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Bedtime turns into a daily struggle
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Transitions (leaving the house, school, or activities) trigger big emotions
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Your child struggles to express what they feel
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You feel like nothing works consistently
These moments can be signs that a young child is still developing the skills to
understand, express, and manage strong emotions.
Young children are still learning:
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what emotions are
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how to name them
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how to respond to them
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ways to help their body settle after a big feeling
And that learning doesn’t happen through instruction alone. It happens through
repetition, experience, and connection.
Emotional Learning
At Storytime with Annie & Rocco, we use a simple but powerful approach:
Story + Song + Repetition = Emotional Regulation
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Songs, rhythm, and repetition can make new ideas easier for children to remember and practice.
Sound & Rhythm
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Stories give children relatable characters and situations through which they can explore feelings and everyday challenges.
Story & Connection
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Practice & Repetition
Revisiting familiar songs, stories, and activities give children repeated opportunities to practice emotional skills.
Instead of simply telling children to “calm down,” Annie & Rocco gives them playful ways to notice feelings and practice what they can do next.
What is Emotional Regulation?
Emotional regulation is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotional responses. For young children, this skill is still developing, and big behaviors are often a sign of learning in progress.
It's the ability to:
- Recognize emotions in the moment
- Understand what causes those feelings
- Manage physical and emotional reactions
- Return to a calm state after a big feeling
Because they are still learning, children may:
- Cry intensely over small frustrations
- Struggle with transitions like leaving the park
- Act out when overwhelmed or overstimulated
- Shut down when they cannot find the words
- They are not being difficult. They are learning.
Try This at Home
Practical ways to integrate Storytime with Annie & Rocco into your everyday routines for calm and connection.
📚 FEATURED SEL BOOKS
A parent's curated guide to our best-loved stories for building emotional intelligence and calm routines.
Supports: Emotional Expression & Literacy
Best for: Daily reflection and naming big feelings before they overwhelm.
Supports: Sleep Hygiene & Security
Best for: Building predictable evening routines that signal safety.
