How Our Teachers Support a Crying Child

It takes enormous trust to leave your child in someone else’s care, especially when they are crying.At Mulberry House International Kindergarten,we take that trust very seriously, and we want you to know exactly how our teachers support children through distress.

Emotional Regulation: Starting with Warmth and Calm

The first and most important thing our teachers do is stay calm and warm. A teacher’s nervous system regulates a child’s nervous system. When a child is in distress and their teacher is relaxed, present, and unrattled, the child’s own stress response begins to calm down. We never express frustration or impatience with a crying child — every tear is met with gentleness.

Validation and Sensitive Comfort: The Co-Regulation Approach

Our teachers use a co-regulation approach. Rather than trying to talk a child out of their feelings or immediately distracting them, we first acknowledge and name what the child is experiencing: “I can see you are missing Mummy. That is such a big feeling. I’m right here with you.” This validation is not just kind — it is neurologically effective. When children feel understood, the intensity of their emotional response decreases.

Physical comfort is offered sensitively. Some children want to be held; others prefer a reassuring presence nearby without physical contact. Our teachers read each child’s cues carefully and respond to what that individual child needs. We have a quiet corner in every classroom where children can settle with a comfort object, a book, or simply a moment of calm with a trusted adult.

Gentle Engagement and Open Family Communication

We use gentle distraction and engagement once the initial wave of distress has passed. An interesting material, a favourite activity, or an invitation to join a small group of children can gradually draw a child’s attention back to the present moment and the joy of the classroom.

We always communicate with families. If a child has an unusually difficult day, we reach out. We do not wait for parents to ask — we proactively share how children settled, what helped, and how they were later in the day. This transparency is a cornerstone of the trust we build with every family.

Please know: in over 15 years of teaching, our team has never met a child who did not eventually settle and thrive at Mulberry House. Your child will too.

Contact us on WhatsApp at Tai Po Campus 5598 0909/Southside Campus 5598 0555/Central Campus 5598 0509 or fill out this form and we’ll get in touch!