In both parenting and education, one of the most persistent challenges is helping children manage their emotions in a healthy and effective way. There are many behavior modification techniques in children for this, including the traffic light technique. Intense emotions are often overwhelming for children. the little ones, and often lead to impulsive childhood behavior disorders and disproportionate reactions. In this article, we will explain how the traffic light technique works, we will give you some examples, how to implement it at home and the benefits it offers for the emotional development of children.

What is the traffic light technique for children?

The traffic light technique for children is an educational  ABA method designed to help young people manage their emotions and behaviours in an effective and healthy way. Inspired by the traffic control system, this technique uses the colours of a traffic light to represent different emotional states and actions to follow. We explain in more detail how this technique works in the next section.

How does the traffic light technique work?

As the name clearly indicates, the traffic light technique works in much the same way as traffic lights. That is, there is a structured framework for children to manage their emotions by associating colors with specific stages of the emotional process. More specifically, it works like this:

Identifying emotions

The first step is to help your child identify the physical and emotional signs that indicate he or she is in the "red." These may include symptoms such as rapid breathing, muscle tension, or an increased heart rate, and the goal is to teach your child to recognize when he or she is about to lose control.

Reflection and analysis

Once the child has recognised that he or she is in a high emotional phase, he or she should stop and reflect on his or her feelings. Ideally, he or she should be encouraged to ask questions such as: Why am I feeling this way? What triggered this emotion? This stage encourages self-observation and analysis of the underlying causes of the discomfort.

Constructive action

With an understanding of his or her emotions and their cause, the child moves on to the “action” stage. Here, he or she is guided to seek and evaluate possible solutions or alternatives to handle the situation. The idea is for the child to choose an appropriate and constructive response, rather than react impulsively.

For it to really work, this technique should be practiced in calm moments, so that the child fully understands it before applying it in highly emotional situations. There are many things that can be done to help the child adapt to this form of communication, such as placing visual representations of the traffic light in different areas, but we discuss this below.

Steps to create an emotional traffic light at home

Creating an emotional traffic light at home is a simple but very effective process to teach children to manage their emotions. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own traffic light:

Step 1. Materials

• Cardboard or thick paper to make the base of the traffic light.
• Paints, markers or colored paper in red, orange and green.
• Scissors and glue to cut and paste the different elements.
• Adhesive tape or velcro to hang the traffic light on the wall.

Step 2. Designing the traffic light

Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard to be the background for your traffic light. Then divide the cardboard into three horizontal sections. Paint each section with the colors of the traffic light: red at the top, orange in the middle, and green at the bottom. Finally, you can draw or paste pictures of a real traffic light to make it more attractive and easier for the child to recognize.

Step 3. Explain the traffic light to the child

Talk to your child about the traffic light and explain what each colour means. Use simple, clear examples to illustrate how the traffic light helps them manage their emotions. Go through the traffic light process with your child in quiet moments and make sure they understand that red means stop, orange means reflect and green is for acting constructively.

Step 4. Place the traffic light in a visible place

Choose a place in your home where the traffic light is easily visible and accessible to your child, such as on the wall of his or her room or in a common area. When you do this, make sure the traffic light is at a height that your child can easily see and use.

Step 5. Use the traffic light regularly

Introduce the traffic light into your child's daily routine, for example, when you notice that he or she is starting to feel frustrated or angry, guide him or her through the process of stopping, thinking and acting. When you're done, don't forget to praise your child when he or she uses the traffic light effectively.

Examples of traffic light technique for children

Here are some examples of how and when to use the traffic light technique:

Classroom example

During a group activity, a child begins to get frustrated because he cannot solve a math problem.

Traffic Light Application: The teacher reminds the child to use the emotion traffic light. The child recognizes that he or she is on “red” because he or she is feeling frustrated, and the teacher helps the child move to “orange” by asking what he or she is feeling and why. The child then uses the green light to seek a solution again with the teacher’s help, such as asking for clues or going over the steps of the problem.

At home

During playtime, a child gets upset because his brother won't share a toy.

Traffic light application: The child, guided by his parents, stops and notices that he is on “red” because of his anger. On “orange,” the child thinks about why he is angry and considers how he could express his feelings without yelling. Finally, on “green,” the child decides to calmly talk to his brother and find a solution, such as taking turns playing with the toy.

In a family discussion

During an argument about chores, a child starts raising his voice because he doesn't agree with a rule.

Traffic light application: The family uses the traffic light to guide the conversation. The child recognizes that he is on "red" and stops to calm down. On "orange," he reflects on his reaction and what upset him. On "green," he engages in a calm conversation to express his point of view and seek agreement with family members.

Benefits of the traffic light technique of emotions in children

Teaching our little ones to identify and communicate their emotions in a healthy way is very necessary for their future psycho-emotional health. A child who is not able to communicate how they feel is continually frustrated and feels that the world does not understand them, therefore, they are unable to create genuine or healthy connections. Using techniques like the one we have been explaining in this post is as useful as it is necessary, and it also provides benefits such as:

Promotes self-observation

By teaching children to identify when they are in “red,” “orange,” or “green,” they are helped to develop a greater awareness of their emotions. This observation is critical to helping children recognize their feelings and understand their causes, allowing them to manage their emotions more effectively.

Promotes self-control

The traffic light technique provides children with a visual tool to stop and think before acting. By pausing and reflecting in the "orange" phase, children learn to control their impulses and avoid reactions that could lead to conflict or misunderstanding.

Encourages reflective thinking

During the "orange" phase, children are encouraged to reflect on the situation and consider different alternatives to solve the problem. This reflection process promotes critical thinking and helps children make more informed and appropriate decisions.

Facilitates problem solving

By moving into the "green" phase, children are guided to find effective and constructive solutions to their problems. This not only teaches them practical skills for resolving conflicts, but also reinforces the ability to find alternative solutions independently.

Strengthens long-term emotional management

The traffic light technique not only helps in the present moment, but also teaches children emotional management skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. By learning to identify and manage their emotions from an early age, children develop a strong foundation for dealing with emotional challenges in the future.

Supports family and school integration

By implementing the traffic light system both at home and at school, a consistency in the approach to emotional management is created. This allows children to receive the same type of support and reinforcement in different environments, facilitating a more effective integration of the technique into their daily lives.

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Conclusion

In summary, the traffic light technique of emotions is an excellent and invaluable tool in the field of parenting and education, because it offers a practical and visual solution to help children manage their emotions effectively. Ultimately, the traffic light technique contributes to healthier emotional development and more effective communication, benefiting both children and the adults around them.