Emotional Saturation

Emotional saturation is when negative feelings and emotional distress become overwhelming and persistent, potentially impacting daily life. It's a point where the accumulation of stress and negative emotions leads to a sense of being drained, overwhelmed, and struggling to cope. This state may often be characterised by a loss of control, feelings of rage, and potentially aggressive impulses.

You need to match discipline to a child’s changing energy.

Parents become aware of their child’s changing energy levels (yellow to orange to red).
Parents help children become aware of their energy levels (yellow to orange to red).
Parents help the child learn to calm their emotions.

Yellow to Orange Zone

You are not mad or frustrated.

The child is not in trouble yet, but they are starting to rev up.

You watch your child's energy and give a friendly reminder of options.

The child gets to choose whether or how many breaths they need because they are still in control of their brain. Try and stay in this phase, it may turn a little orange from yellow, and keep checking their energy.

Please, stop acting out and take some breaths, how many: two big ones or a big one and two small exhales?

Red Zone

You may be startled, frustrated, or mad, but try not to argue or enter a power struggle. You are watching your energy and your child's energy, and they are out of control of their brain, and therefore, of their emotions and bodies. The child cannot choose now.

Automatic 4-minute break:

Hitting is not allowed. Time for a 4-minute-break, you can choose the mat or the bouncer.