TL;DR: Emotional regulation isn't about stopping the "Roblox Rage"—it’s about teaching your kid how to navigate the storm when Roblox inevitably glitches or they get "scammed" in Adopt Me!. To get there, we use co-regulation (staying calm so they can find their calm) and high-quality media that models these skills.
Top Media for Emotional Intelligence:
- Show: Bluey (The gold standard for sibling dynamics and frustration)
- Movie: Inside Out 2 (Essential for the "Anxiety" years of middle school)
- Book: The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (Teaches kids—and parents—how to just be there)
- Game: Spiritfarer (A "cozy game" that handles heavy emotions with grace)
- App: Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame (Perfect for the 4-6 crowd)
If you’ve ever watched your kid go from zero to "Ohio-level weird" because they lost a streak in Fortnite, you aren't alone. Digital environments are designed to be dopamine factories. When that flow is interrupted—by a "Game Over," a laggy connection, or a parent saying "dinner's ready"—it’s a physical shock to their nervous system.
It’s not just "brain rot" (though let’s be real, twenty minutes of Skibidi Toilet isn't helping anyone’s attention span). It’s that kids haven’t developed the prefrontal cortex "brakes" to slow down their emotional engine. They aren't being "bad"; they are being biologically overwhelmed.
Emotional regulation is the ability to monitor and manage your energy states, emotions, and behaviors in ways that are acceptable and produce positive results. For a 7-year-old, that means not throwing the iPad when they lose in Minecraft.
But here’s the kicker: kids can’t learn to self-regulate until they’ve been co-regulated.
Co-regulation is when we use our calm to settle their storm. If we meet their "Roblox Rage" with "Parental Peak Frustration," we’re just adding fuel to the fire. We have to be the thermostat, not the thermometer. We set the temperature; we don't just react to it.
We can use the very screens that sometimes cause the trouble to teach the solution. Here are the best picks for different age groups to help them understand their big feelings.
For the Little Ones (Ages 3-6)
There is a reason every parent you know is obsessed with this show. It’s not for the kids; it’s for us. Episodes like "Yoga Ball" or "The Show" model exactly how to handle disappointment and sensory overwhelm without being preachy. It’s the ultimate guide to how Bluey teaches emotional intelligence.
This is a classic "digital tool" that actually works. It walks kids through a simple three-step strategy: Breathe with the monster, Think of a plan, and then Do it. It’s a great way to introduce the vocabulary of calming down before the meltdown happens.
For the "Big Kids" (Ages 7-11)
While the first movie was about sadness, the sequel hits the "Anxiety" and "Envy" buttons that start popping up in late elementary school. It’s a fantastic conversation starter about what’s happening in their heads when they feel that "tightness" in their chest during a competitive game of Stumble Guys.
This book (and the The Wild Robot movie) is a masterclass in adaptation and managing "otherness." Roz the robot has to learn to survive in a world she wasn't built for, which is a pretty great metaphor for a kid trying to navigate social dynamics on a Discord server.
For Tweens and Teens (Ages 12+)
If your teen is prone to "rage-quitting," try introducing them to "cozy games." Spiritfarer is a beautiful, slow-paced game about saying goodbye. It requires patience and emotional investment, providing a totally different neuro-chemical experience than the high-stress environment of Call of Duty.
This is a "hard" platformer game, but the story is explicitly about the protagonist's struggle with anxiety and depression. It teaches "productive failure"—the idea that losing a level isn't a disaster, but a chance to try again. It’s a great game for teaching growth mindset.
- Preschoolers: Focus on naming the feeling. "You look frustrated that the tower fell." Use physical cues like "turtle breaths."
- Elementary: Focus on the "Transition Bridge." Don't just yank the remote. Give a 10-minute, 5-minute, and 1-minute warning. Better yet, use a physical timer they can see.
- Middle Schoolers: This is the age of "social stakes." If they are upset, it might be because a friend left their party in Roblox without saying goodbye. Validate the social pain; don't just dismiss it as "it's just a game."
Check out our guide on managing transitions between screens and real life
When the "Roblox Rage" hits, that is not the time for a lecture. When a kid is in "lizard brain" mode (fight or flight), their "wizard brain" (logic) is offline.
- Acknowledge the feeling: "Man, it really sucks to lose all your items after that much work."
- Offer a physical reset: A glass of water, a quick walk outside, or even just a "big squeeze" (hug) can help reset the nervous system.
- The Post-Game Analysis: Wait until they are calm—maybe even the next day—to talk about what happened. "Yesterday when the game lagged, you got really loud. What do you think we can do next time that happens so the iPad doesn't end up on the floor?"
If your kid is a "zombie" or super irritable after a long session on YouTube or TikTok, they are likely experiencing a dopamine crash. Their brain was flooded with "feel-good" chemicals, and now it’s struggling to level out.
Instead of jumping straight into homework or chores, give them 15 minutes of "low-stimulation" time. Let them look at a graphic novel like Wings of Fire or play with some LEGOs. It’s the "decompression chamber" for their brain.
We aren't trying to raise kids who never get angry or frustrated. We're trying to raise kids who know what to do with that anger. By choosing media that models emotional intelligence and practicing co-regulation ourselves, we’re giving them the tools to handle the digital world without losing their cool.
Learn more about the Screenwise approach to digital wellness
- Audit their library: Are most of their games "high-stress"? Try adding a "cozy game" like Animal Crossing: New Horizons to the mix.
- Watch together: Pick an episode of Bluey and talk about how the characters handled their "big feelings."
- Set the stage: Use the Screenwise survey to see how your family’s digital habits compare to your community and identify where the friction points are.
Ask our chatbot for a list of cozy games for a stressed-out 10-year-old