Here are a few handy songs to help toddlers and young children learn how to manage their big feelings.

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I recommend these songs because they are simple catchy phrases that are easy to use repetitively, which is how kids learn. They might not grasp it today, or agree with it tomorrow, they might forget it next week or think it's only for therapy; repeating things over and over allows children to learn new skills to put in their "coping toolbox" to use when needed. 

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Catchy phrases are a great tool for parents, especially when getting pulled into power struggles over feelings and behavior. It gives you the ability to plant the seed and then shrug it off. For example, when you sing "if you're so mad you want to roar, take a deep breath and count to four", you are communicating that it's OK to be mad and that you are there to help with those intense feelings. It's a shruggable moment because you are offering something they can take or leave, they have a sense of control and you feel like you have done your job parenting because it's not ok to hit or yell. I recommend roaring yourself to show your child how to roar and how to calm themselves down.

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Feelings are tough. They are big and intense. They sneak up on you and can be embarrassing, especially  when you feel like you are the only one to feel that way. Share with your children your own feelings, help them learn new words to help them communicate their feelings. When they tell you they don't know how they feel, it's true. They don't have the words yet beyond happy, mad & sad, and certainly don't know the why of how they feel yet.