Little Girl BIG emotions

[thebigfam]

My daughter has recently started to get very emotional. I think it is that she is starting to get emotions that she doesn't understand how to express. She is 3 and for example this morning she wanted to give me my glasses. Well she didn't know where they were so I just grabbed them and put them on my face. She threw a fit for at least 30 mins about how she wanted to give me my glasses. I tried to give them to her so she could give them back but she wouldn't give them back. She would go from crying to straight up yelling at me. I would tell her ...please don't yell at me. finally she stopped crying, walked out of the room and said "momma you make me very sad." What do I do. I don't want to fold to fits but I want her to understand that I know she is upset. I guess I just need some encouragement and advice!

Thanks Big Momma

[JamieCatheryn]

DS will do this too, cry and yell and even throw and hit things over something that seems small. What I do is apologize for accidentally hurting his feelings, if I think I understand what he's feeling I'll ask him about it, is this because you are frustrated, because things are different, whatever it is. I tell him he needs to get it under control now and save the crying for bigger stuff. I have him sit down, if I can I'll hug him or if he needs space give him that, and have him breathe deeply and slowly and to move on to something else.. And always remember beings hungry or tired or bored could contribute to stronger than necessary emotions.

[St. Margaret]

Have you read "Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child" or something like that by John Gottman? It is a huge part of how we all make it through the day... DD can even come help ME calm down when I'm upset. It talks about emotion coaching, about how little kids don't know how to deal with their emotions, how to get back to calm from upset, and how scary that can be. Stating how they are feeling, like "You are really sad; you wanted to hand the glasses to me!" and some real close contact and attention can help diffuse things... maybe the book will help you out. Either way, good luck! It IS hard.