How to Teach Girls Emotional Regulation in a Fun and Engaging Way

Support Girls in Handling Big Feelings With Confidence, Compassion & Calm

Let’s face it—emotional regulation is one of the most important life skills girls can learn. But teaching it doesn’t have to feel heavy, clinical, or like a lecture. In fact, the best way to teach girls how to manage their emotions is through fun, connection, and creativity.

When girls are given tools to name, understand, and move through their big feelings—without shame or judgment—they grow in resilience, empathy, and confidence. Whether you're a coach, educator, mentor, or group leader, you can create an emotionally empowering space where girls feel safe to be real and supported to grow.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Emotional regulation helps girls respond to their feelings instead of reacting from them

• Girls learn best when emotional tools are taught with fun, movement, and reflection

• Creating a safe, judgment-free environment is key to helping girls open up

• You don’t need to fix their feelings—just guide them through with compassion and calm

Start With Emotional Vocabulary (But Make It Fun!)

Many girls can say they feel “mad” or “sad,” but struggle to go deeper. Try using a feelings wheel, emotion cards, or emoji games to help expand their emotional vocabulary. Play “Name That Feeling” charades or have girls act out different emotions and guess them. The goal? Normalize feelings and give them language for what’s going on inside.

Use Movement to Move Through Emotions

Sometimes, talking isn’t enough—big emotions live in the body. Invite girls to “shake out stress,” “stomp their anger,” or do a “stretch and release” sequence. You can even try a “Mood Motion” activity where each emotion gets a matching move. Movement releases energy and helps emotions shift without having to explain everything.

Teach the Power of the Pause

Help girls understand that when emotions feel overwhelming, they can pause—even if it’s just for 10 seconds. Practice together:

• Take 3 deep belly breaths

• Put one hand on your heart

• Say something kind to yourself
  Turn it into a fun “superpower” they can activate anytime things feel intense.

Create a Calm Down Toolkit Together

Let each girl build her own emotional regulation toolkit—filled with ideas that work for her. Include items like:

• A list of calming music

• Favorite grounding quotes or affirmations

• A worry stone or stress ball

• Breathing techniques
  Girls love creating something they can use when emotions get big—it gives them ownership and control.

Try a “Name It to Tame It” Game

Big feelings often feel scary because they’re vague. Teaching girls to name what they feel helps take away the power. Make it a game: when a strong feeling comes up, they name it, rate its intensity, and choose one coping strategy from their toolkit.
Example: “I’m feeling frustrated, about a 7 out of 10, so I’m going to journal and take a walk.”

Use Creative Expression as a Safe Outlet

Let girls draw, paint, journal, or collage their emotions. Try a prompt like: If this feeling had a color, shape, or texture, what would it look like? or Draw what helps you feel better when you’re overwhelmed. Creative expression can unlock what words sometimes can’t.

Teach the “Feelings Aren’t Facts” Reminder

Girls often assume that feeling overwhelmed means something is wrong with them. Remind them:

• Feelings are not forever

• Feelings are valid, but they’re not always facts

• You can feel a feeling and still be okay
  Reinforce this with activities that separate “emotion” from “identity”—like making “I feel” cards instead of “I am” statements.

Celebrate Progress and Normalize Struggle

Every time a girl chooses to pause, talk it out, take a breath, or show compassion to herself—that’s a win. Celebrate it. And when emotions still feel big? Let her know that’s normal, too. Emotional regulation isn’t about never feeling upset—it’s about building tools to move through it with courage.

Want a ready-to-use series that makes teaching emotional regulation fun, simple, and impactful? The Managing Stress and Emotions Coaching Kit is a complete 4-part journey that helps girls understand their emotions, handle stress, and create inner calm—while building resilience and self-trust. It includes done-for-you activities, journaling prompts, games, group discussions, and printables that make your job easy and your sessions powerful.

- Kate