Description When children learn to regulate their emotions well, it positively affects their ability to stay steady in the face of negative feelings, their capacity to persevere for a greater reward down the road, and even their memory and learning abilities. In other words, the experience of managing emotions well can improve a child's learning ability and strengthen their problem-solving skills. _Emotional Regulation: The Skill That Shapes Your Child's Future Since parenting is never easy, taking care of your own emotions as a parent isn't optional—it's essential for caring for your child steadily and securely. If you keep putting off caring for yourself by telling yourself, "As long as my child is okay, I don't matter," you may gradually become overwhelmed by feelings like depression, guilt, and helplessness that get in the way of good parenting. Please remember: taking care of yourself as a parent isn't just for your own sake. _Five Ways to Better Understand Your Own Emotions as a Parent However, it's important to know that a child's emotional crisis can sometimes become an opportunity for growth. Children who learn to move through anxiety become less afraid of new situations. Only by learning to tolerate frustration can a child experience the deep satisfaction that comes after long perseverance. A child who knows how to express anger appropriately—rather than one who can never express it at all—will be better able to protect themselves and the things that matter to them. _Even Negative Emotions Can Nourish Growth Children who learn to tame their anxiety, rather than being swallowed by it, grow up with the strength to work through anxiety on their own. Just as every hero faces a crisis before they rise to the challenge, every solved problem was once preceded by anxiety. If a child can learn to resolve the crisis of anxiety on their own, they can become the hero of their own life. This means they become able to actively face and resolve the various crises life brings their way—and as a result, their self-esteem grows as well. _Anxiety: The Radar That Helps Us Sense and Avoid Danger If a child struggles to manage jealousy and becomes ruled by it, they may grow into an adult who cannot tolerate others' achievements, growth, or popularity. They might even become someone who subtly belittles others' accomplishments, or who can't help but constantly show off. When jealousy isn't channeled in a healthy way, it can turn into a sense of inferiority, since other people's shining moments increasingly become triggers for that insecurity. _Turning Jealousy and Inferiority into a Chance to Build Initiative The more a child learns to express joy on their own, the better they come to understand themselves. It's important for them to frequently experience the feeling of "Ah, so this is what I enjoy." Furthermore, even when children have the same experiences as others, they become better able to find their own sources of enjoyment. A child who once learned joy from others takes their first step toward becoming someone who teaches others how to find joy. _Joy: The Power That Helps Us Discover What We Love Emotions hold tremendous power. Parents need to think carefully about how to use that power in raising their children. Otherwise, triggering negative emotions like guilt, fear, and anxiety may end up trapping a child like Rapunzel in her tower—even if the parent's intentions were good. That's why parents must always stay alert to the temptation of using emotions as a tool to control their child according to their own wishes. _Are You Trying to Keep Your Child Confined to What You Want?