Building Emotional Regulation Through Play: School Readiness Fun!
- claire2876
- May 2
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
At South Coast Therapy & Support Group, our School Readiness Group is all about helping children build the foundational skills they need for a confident start to school. This week, we focused on a critical area of development: emotional regulation.
Understanding Feelings Through Creative Play
One of the key ways children learn to manage their emotions is by first learning to identify and express how they feel. To support this, our therapists guided the group through a fun and engaging activity – making faces to show different emotions.
Using a mix of craft materials, mirrors, and interactive games, children explored how facial expressions can reflect emotions like happiness, sadness, surprise, and frustration. By naming and recognising these emotions, they’re learning how to process big feelings and build empathy for others.
Why Emotional Regulation Matters for School
Starting school is a big milestone, and with it comes new routines, expectations, and social situations. Emotional regulation helps children:
Stay calm when things don’t go as planned
Communicate needs to teachers and peers
Transition between tasks or environments
Work through challenges with resilience
By focusing on emotional skills early, we’re giving kids the tools to feel safe, connected, and confident when they walk into the classroom.
Join Our School Readiness Group
Our groups are fun, supportive, and designed by experienced therapists to meet the unique needs of every child. With a mix of structured activities and play-based learning, we target everything from fine motor skills and attention span to social interaction and emotional development.
Want to learn more or register your child?
Contact us at (02) 4421 6013 or visit www.sctherapysupport.au
Let’s work together to make your child’s transition to school a smooth and joyful one!
