When Big Feelings Take Over
Practical ways to support regulation in everyday life
A Practical Strategy Series session for parents who understand that their child is struggling, but are still unsure what will actually help in the moment.
When your child is overwhelmed, it can be hard to know what they need from you
Your child may be frustrated, crying, arguing, shutting down or simply no longer able to move through what is being asked of them.
And as the parent, you are trying to work out what to do next.
Do they need help? Space? Fewer words? More support? Is this a moment to talk things through, or would that make things harder?
There is not always one response that works every time.
When Big Feelings Take Over helps you make sense of what your child may be able to manage in the moment, and respond in a way that better fits what is happening.
A practical approach for difficult regulation moments
When children become increasingly overwhelmed, their ability to listen, think, communicate and problem-solve can change.
That means the support that works when your child is frustrated but still thinking may be quite different from what they need once the situation has become much bigger.
This session helps you recognise those changes and adjust your support as the moment unfolds.
The aim is not to stop your child from having strong emotions.
It is to help you feel clearer about what may help now, what can wait, and when your child is ready for more from you again.
What we will cover
During the session, we will look at:
- Recognising when your child is becoming less available for thinking and problem-solving
- Adjusting your support as their capacity changes
- Practical ways to respond when your child is becoming overwhelmed
- How your own pace, voice and presence can influence the interaction
- Simple skills that can be practised before difficult moments arise
- Knowing when to return to what happened afterwards
- Applying the approach across different everyday situations
The focus is practical and manageable.
You will not be asked to learn a complicated regulation system or remember a long list of strategies.
Useful across everyday family life
The ideas in this session can be applied across many situations, including homework frustration, sibling conflict, losing or making mistakes, changes to plans, stopping a preferred activity, transitions and those end-of-day moments when your child has very little left.
The situation may change, but the same underlying approach can help you decide what your child is able to manage in that moment.
Your session includes
40 minute session
A focused parent session with practical examples and guidance you can apply to everyday regulation moments.
6-page Parent Action Workbook
A printable workbook to help you apply the ideas to your own child, identify what you are noticing and choose a practical starting point.
Printable quick-reference pages
Simple pages you can keep nearby and return to when you need a reminder of the key ideas.
This session may be a good fit if…
- You often find yourself wondering what will actually help once your child is already upset or overwhelmed.
- You understand that regulation is part of the picture, but still feel unsure about when to step in, when to simplify things, when to wait and when your child is ready to talk again.
- You are looking for practical guidance that fits ordinary family life, without turning every difficult moment into a therapy session.
- You would prefer a small number of useful ideas to work with, rather than another long list of strategies.
About Skill Sense®
Practical guidance grounded in paediatric occupational therapy
I'm Esmé Le Roux, a paediatric occupational therapist with more than 25 years of experience working with children and families.
Skill Sense® was created to help parents understand the skills underneath everyday difficulties and feel clearer about what to do next.
My approach is evidence-informed, practical and designed for real family life.
The goal is not to turn parents into therapists. It is to give you enough understanding and practical guidance to make informed decisions about the support your child may need.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to watch the "Big Feelings After School" session first?
No. This Practical Strategy Series session stands on its own.
If you would like more background about why some children appear to manage through the school day and then have much bigger reactions afterwards, the Big Feelings After School Brilliant Basics session can be a useful companion.
Is this session only about after school?
No. The approach can be used across many everyday situations, including homework, sibling conflict, disappointment, transitions, stopping preferred activities and changes to plans.
Is this a sensory processing session?
No. Sensory factors can contribute to regulation for some children, but this session takes a broader view of self-regulation.
The focus is on understanding what your child can manage in the moment and adjusting your support accordingly.
Is this a full self-regulation program?
No, that would be addressed in the Regulation Ready program.
This is a focused parent strategy session designed to give you practical support for everyday regulation moments.
What if my child's reactions are very intense?
If reactions are frequent, prolonged or unsafe, are affecting many parts of everyday life, or you are unsure what may be contributing to the pattern, more individualised support may be appropriate.
You can use the Find Your Starting Point tool on the Skill Sense® website if you are unsure what kind of support may fit best.
Feel clearer about what to do when the moment becomes difficult
If you understand that your child is struggling but still find yourself wondering what will actually help once emotions begin to rise, this session gives you a practical place to start.
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