Continuing my journey, I recognized the importance of delving deeper into the complex issue I aimed to address. Through primary and secondary research, I gained a profound understanding of the pivotal role emotional regulation plays in a child's development. How children comprehend situations, respond, behave, and experience life is significantly influenced by their ability to regulate their emotions effectively. These emotional expressions manifest through facial expressions, vocalizations, activity levels, interactions, and levels of cooperation, all of which serve as crucial indicators of children's emotional behavior (Wolfer & Visintainer 1975, Becher & Sing 1997).
It became evident that the incapability to self-regulate strong emotions can lead to adverse traits such as rage, withdrawal, anxiety, and aggressive behavior. When emotional regulation skills are lacking, children may struggle with angry outbursts, anxiety, and depression, and engage in self-destructive behaviors. Alarmingly, research revealed that a significant percentage of U.S. children aged 3-17 experience mental, behavioral, and emotional health issues, affecting approximately 21.8% of this young population.
Although mental health awareness is gradually growing among adults, it remains a taboo topic when it comes to discussing children's mental well-being. Surprisingly, the market lacks sufficient products designed to guide young children toward healthy emotional self-regulation. While I discovered various products with similar intentions geared toward adults, there is a distinct gap when it comes to addressing the emotional needs of children.
As I move forward in my quest to find innovative solutions, I am driven by the pressing need to bridge this gap and create effective tools and resources that nurture emotional regulation in children. By raising awareness, destigmatizing mental health discussions for children, and developing age-appropriate products and interventions, we can empower the younger generation to lead emotionally balanced and fulfilling lives. Through the amalgamation of research, compassion, and creativity, I aim to contribute to a brighter and healthier future for our children, where emotional well-being is prioritized and celebrated.
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One of these products is the Emotion Collector by CODE STUDIO. It is a 3d printed and laser cut prototype that strives to echo the mood of its users back through colored lighting. Designed by Thai designers Lalita Kitcha and Wongsathon Choonhavan; it is a 3d printed and laser cut prototype that strives to echo the mood of its users back through colored lighting. It works by collecting the emotional data of its users and creating an emotional average in the form of light colors displayed on a spherical mood
light. Attached to it is a mirror, allowing its users to reflect by seeing themselves from another perspective. I particularly love the prototype's aesthetic appeal and aim to take inspiration from its minimalist and modern design. The notion of emotional data is fascinating, as it allows users to comprehend themselves and deeply reflect on how their emotions have been recently.
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