If you thought “sleep training” was controversial, wait until you wander into a parenting thread about kids’ big feelings. In 2025, emotional regulation is the hottest parenting trend — and honestly, it makes sense.
Our kids are growing up in a world that feels louder, faster, and more overwhelming than ever. And parents are realizing that teaching kids how to handle emotions might be just as important as teaching them to read.
Why Big Feelings Are Center Stage
1. The Pandemic Ripple Effect
The last few years left kids with disrupted routines, missed milestones, and plenty of uncertainty. The fallout? More visible anxiety, frustration, and sadness in classrooms and at home. I had both of my children in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic. It felt very lonely, and scary. I can only imagine my kids felt it from me as well.
2. Social Media Exposure
Even little ones are picking up on viral content, “perfect” lives, and a constant stream of information. That’s a lot for a six-year-old brain to process without turning into an emotional volcano.
3. Schools Are Talking About SEL
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is no longer just a buzzword. Schools and teachers are building it into daily lessons — and parents are scrambling to figure out how to support it at home.
4. Parents Are Burned Out Too
When you’re stretched thin, it’s harder to handle tantrums, meltdowns, or tears. The conversation around big feelings isn’t just about kids — it’s about helping parents not lose their minds in the process.
What Parents Really Want to Know
- How do I help my child calm down when they’re angry?
- What do I say when my kid feels sad or left out?
- How do I teach coping skills without making everything a “lesson”?
The truth? Kids don’t need a 20-step TED Talk. They need validation, simple tools, and consistent modeling from parents who show them it’s okay to feel — and okay to recover.
Clara Harper’s Take
This is why I write the My Inner Monster series. Kids understand stories and characters. When anger shows up as a monster, or sadness hides under the bed, it suddenly feels less scary. They realize: “Oh, I’m not broken. I just have a monster to manage.”
Books make feelings tangible. And when parents read alongside their kids, it opens the door for conversations that would otherwise feel impossible.
The Bottom Line
Big feelings aren’t going away. In 2025, they’re finally getting the spotlight they deserve. The goal isn’t to stop the meltdowns altogether — it’s to give kids (and parents) the tools to handle them.
And honestly? That’s a lesson plenty of adults could use too.
Want More?
Check out my latest book releases:
- Mom Interrupted — a humor therapy workbook for tired moms
- Mom Awakened (coming soon!)
- The My Inner Monster Collection
- The I Can Overcome Collection
👉 Explore all titles at ClaraHarperBooks.com
👉 Follow me on TikTok for sneak peeks, read-alouds, and behind-the-scenes of my writing life.
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