Supporting a Child with Emotional Regulation Challenges

Sophie is a 7-year-old who was struggling with frequent emotional outbursts at home and at school.

Service

Occupational Therapy

Setting

In-school + Clinic

Approach

Sensory Integration and self-regulation focus

Background

Sophie is a 7-year-old who was struggling with frequent emotional outbursts at home and at school. Her parents noticed that she had difficulty calming down after becoming upset, which often affected her friendships, participation in class, and confidence.

Sophie’s teachers reported that she sometimes became frustrated with transitions, struggled to focus during lessons, and had difficulty following routines. Her parents wanted to help her develop skills to manage her emotions more effectively.

Assessment

An occupational therapist (OT) conducted a comprehensive evaluation to understand Sophie’s strengths, challenges, and sensory processing patterns. This included:

What the assessment included

Observations in multiple environments (home, school)
Parent and teacher questionnaires about daily routines and emotional responses
Activities to assess attention, coping strategies, and self-regulation skills

What We learned

The OT identified that Sophie was easily overwhelmed by sensory input, had difficulty recognizing early signs of frustration, and lacked strategies to self-calm.

Intervention Plan

A tailored therapy plan was developed to support Sophie in building emotional regulation skills. Strategies included:
Sensory Regulation Techniques
  • Introducing a “sensory toolbox” with items like stress balls, weighted lap pads, and fidget tools
  • Teaching deep breathing, gentle movement breaks, and grounding exercises
Cognitive-Behavioral and Self-Regulation Strategies
  • Using visual schedules and emotion charts to help Sophie identify feelings early
  • Practicing coping strategies during calm moments so she could use them in challenging situations
Environmental Supports
  • Collaborating with teachers to provide quiet spaces for Sophie to self-regulate
  • Establishing predictable routines at home to reduce anxiety
Skill-Building Activities
  • Role-playing scenarios to practice problem-solving and managing disappointment
  • Encouraging mindfulness games and structured movement activities to improve attention
Participated in Social Communication Group: Lego Therapy

Dynamic social communication group run by an Occupational Therapist to support the development of cooperative play skills, turn-taking, flexible thinking, and improved emotional regulation within peer interactions.

We offer flexible support options to meet you and your family's individual needs

Results

After receiving ongoing support from an occupational therapist:
Sophie was able to recognize early signs of frustration and implement calming strategies with increased independence
Emotional outbursts decreased significantly at home and school
Her teachers reported improved participation, focus, and ability to complete tasks
Sophie increased her confidence in social settings, initiating interactions with peers more often and requiring fewer prompts from adults to join conversations or activities.
Arranged a post group playdate with another of the Lego Therapy group members.

Conclusion

Occupational therapy can provide children like Sophie with the tools and strategies to manage their emotions effectively. By addressing sensory processing, self-regulation, and environmental supports, OTs empower children to succeed both academically and socially while promoting overall well-being.

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