Emotion-coached children and young people:
- Achieve more academically in school
- Are more popular
- Have fewer behavioural problems
- Have fewer infectious illnesses
- Are more emotionally stable
- Are more resilient
Based on research by American Psychologist John Gottman, Emotion Coaching uses moments of heightened emotion and resulting behaviour to guide and teach the child and young person about more effective responses. Through empathetic engagement the child's emotional state is verbally acknowledged and validated, promoting a sense of security and feeling 'felt'. This activates changes in the child's neurological system and allows the child to calm down, physiologically and psychologically.
Inappropriate behaviours are not condoned in Emotion Coaching and when the child is calmer, incidents are discussed in a more rational and productive manner. Moves are made to problem solve and engage in solution-focused strategies.
Through repetitive, consistent and empathetic Emotion Coaching, the ability of a child to regulate their emotions is promoted.
Key Elements are involved in Emotion Coaching:
- Becoming aware of the child's emotions
- Recognising the emotion as an opportunity for intimacy and teaching
- Listening empathetically, validating the child's feelings
- Helping the child find words to label the emotion
- Setting limits and explore strategies to solve the problem at hand
The Programme
This is a research programme and so we will be requesting expressions of interest for 18 settings and then out of those 18 settings, 9 will be chosen at random to partake in the Emotion Coaching programme.
The other 9 settings who do not take part in the programme will be the ‘control group’ and receive a payment for taking part in completing surveys as part of the project. After the research project has ended, those 9 settings may choose to use the money they receive to receive the full training for Emotion Coaching so they will not miss out!
This programme is due to be finalised and shortly EYSWSPH will be recruiting. We will be opening up expressions of interest for all PVIs/Maintained nurseries and preschools who have at least 17 aged 3-4 year olds in their setting. Practitioners will be required to attend training via Zoom.
More information to follow, please contact us in the meantime if you are interested in taking part.