Emotional Detectives: Helping Kids Navigate Big Feelings

Emotions are a natural and essential part of being human and serve many purposes. They can be motivators for behaviors, thought processes, means of communication, survival skills, and even more importantly, for our mental health.

But what are emotions? In simple terms, emotions are a complex psychological state involving three components: a personal (subjective) experience, a body sensation (physiological response), and a behavioral response. Emotions are reactions to situations, and our daily lives can be impacted by them, particularly our decision-making. Through awareness, we can begin to understand the body/mind connection with our emotions and make effective decisions or respond to situations in a healthier way.

But What About Kids?

For children, especially between the ages of five and twelve, understanding, describing, managing, and expressing feelings can be overwhelming and even confusing. While kids experience the same core emotions as adults (like joy, sadness, fear, and anger), they process and express them differently depending on their stage of development. Brain development, life experiences, and socialization shape their understanding of emotions. Children’s ability to recognize, label, and regulate their feelings evolves with age and experience, but without guidance and modeling, they may struggle to express their feelings effectively.

Why Emotional Regulation Matters

Emotional regulation is recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions effectively. It’s what helps kids pause before reacting, express themselves clearly, and handle challenges without becoming overwhelmed. Research shows that children who develop strong emotional regulation skills are more likely to:

· Build positive and stable relationships with peers, adults (such as teachers), and caregivers 

· Have a better experience in school

· Create resilience and problem-solving skills

· Develop increased empathy and greater self-awareness

When kids struggle to regulate their emotions, they may express them in maladaptive ways: they may show their anger by hitting, show sadness by withdrawing from others, or becoming anxious in everyday situations. These difficulties can impact their mental health, interpersonal relationships, academics, and other facets of life, even into adulthood.

Emotional Detectives: A Free Group for Kids

Deepwater Counseling is offering a free group on emotional regulation designed specifically for kids. In this group, hosted by counseling intern Nikole Roberts, kids will be encouraged to explore their emotions in a supportive, engaging, and interactive way—helping them build skills they can carry for life.

What We’ll Cover in the Group

This group is designed to help kids identify, understand, and healthily express their emotions.

We’ll focus on the following key emotions, the thoughts, situations, or events that may trigger them, and the physical sensations that result all while learning positive coping strategies.

· Anger

· Calmness

· Sadness

· Happiness (Joy)

· Anxiety (Worry)

· Bravery (Courage)

Each session will include interactive activities, games, crafts, storytelling, and role-playing to help kids understand their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in a fun and engaging way.

How Caregivers Can Further Support Their Children

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in shaping a child’s emotional development. While this group will provide kids with tools and strategies, reinforcement at home is key! Here are some ways caregivers can support emotional regulation:

Encourage open conversations: Let your child know that all emotions are normal and you are there to listen and communicate with them.

Use books and storytelling: Stories can help kids see emotions in action and understand different coping methods that are relatable.

Model healthy regulation and behaviors: Show your child how you handle your emotions in a positive way.

Practice together: Deep breathing exercises (like this one here), mindfulness, and role-playing can reinforce what they learn in group sessions.

Join Us!

Early emotional regulation skills are key to success in friendships, school, and beyond! If you’re looking for a safe, structured, and fun environment for your child to learn emotional regulation skills, we hope you’ll join us for this free group. Emotional Detectives is designed for kids ages 5-12 to help them navigate and manage their emotions. The group will meet at Deepwater Counseling in Ann Arbor on 3/26, 4/9, and 4/23 from 6-7:30 PM. To register, contact Nikole Roberts at nikole@deepwatermichigan.com for more information and to enroll your child.

--Nikole Roberts, Counseling Intern