Katie's Corner: Girls' Day -- learning to control emotions Katie's Corner: Girls' Day -- learning to control emotions (May 18, 2005)

By Katie Blankenberg

Fifth-grader, St. Raymond School

The years from fifth grade through high school can be an emotional roller coaster. Emotions -- such as being depressed, nervous or angry -- can get out of control and interfere with school activities and relations with family and friends.

In March, I attended a workshop on "emotional intelligence" that was part of a Girls' Day conference for tweens, held at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. The sponsors were state Sen. Jackie Speier, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, and Notre Dame de Namur University in collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Education.

I spent the day learning ways to gain awareness of feelings. This is important because much of success in life depends on "emotional well-being," according to workshop presenters and school counselors Wendy Tymoff and Sherry Junge of the Hillsborough City School District.

Let's say that your brother did something you didn't like. Would you scream or strike at him? Before you act, it's best to think of the consequences.

Some ways to control emotional outbursts are deep breathing, going on a walk, exercising, listening to music, watching a favorite movie, kicking soccer balls, and shooting baskets.

Other ways to handle stress are to try to express your feelings in words and ask others how they feel. Talk with someone you trust about the things that bother you.

Next time your brother or sister makes you angry or frustrated, try some of these techniques. Since summer is coming soon, I need to make sure my siblings start practicing these techniques as well.

Girls' Day will be a yearly event, and I encourage moms and daughters to attend this conference.
Katie Blankenberg, 11, lives in Menlo Park.
INFORMATION

For more information on Girls' Day, check out the Web site (girlsday.org).

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