Kids move through an escalation cycle during conflict: calm, triggered, peak anger, cooling off, then calm again. A color-coded emotional check-in helps them recognize where they are in the cycle and name their feelings, building self-awareness for better conflict resolution.
In the De-escalation 101 course, we talk a lot about the escalation cycle. So we go from calm to feeling those like triggers, escalation cycle, to being at the peak, really mad, out of control. Then we go to de-escalation, cooling off, and calm. So this is really helping our kids understand the escalation cycle and where they're at. And then this color-coded kind of check-in— how are you at? Are you calm? Are you feeling annoyed? Are you really mad? Are you cooling off? Are you calm? And then equating that to this cycle. So, okay, I'm starting, I'm really mad, or No, I'm starting to cool off. I'm feeling calm. I'm feeling better.
