Show Excitement Another Way

1. 1

   If a box accidentally falls with a loud thump, the sudden sound may excite your baby. They may drop it again to recreate the effect.

2. 2

   Begin by naming what they may be seeking: “That crash was exciting. You want to hear it again.”

3. 3

   Offer another action with a lively result, such as patting the table, tapping a toy drum, clapping, or pushing a ball.

4. 4

   Your baby may not accept the switch immediately and may keep trying to drop the box.

5. 5

   Give them a little time to settle, then invite the alternative again.

What to notice

• Uses a suggested action, such as clapping or drumming, to express excitement Emotional & Behavioral Self-Regulation
• Switches from dropping the box to another exciting action Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)

Tips

• Putting the feeling and cause into words helps your baby begin connecting an internal experience with what happened.
• An alternative can preserve the excitement while introducing a way of expressing it that works better in the setting.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Naming the excitement behind an action and offering another way to express it gives your baby early support for shifting behavior while keeping the feeling understood.