Five Strategies to Support Regulation
Each day we start with an allotment of energy to put towards efforts in our day – concentrating, communicating, learning, playing.
But the first thing that consumes much of this energy? Self-regulation.
Energy stores can be depleted quickly, particularly for our kids with sensory differences, resulting in what we perceive as challenging behaviors or meltdowns. And this is so triggering for us as parents! Especially if we’re trying to manage a million things while getting our kids dressed, fed, and out the door in the morning.
So what can we do to support our kids through these difficult moments? The starting point should always be co-regulation. Our kids need someone to help them find a calm state before they can build the capacity to do this on their own. Co-regulation helps them to understand what calm feels like and teaches them ways to replicate this on their own in the future.
Practice these five strategies to enhance your ability to co-regulate:
Find your calm: Do a quick check of your own regulation. Is your body getting tense? Is your voice getting louder? Take a moment to find you calm – try taking some deep breaths and softening your face. Demonstrate what you want to see from your child.
Lower your body: Adjust your positioning. Bringing yourself down to the floor or closer to your child’s level will signal a sense of comforting and togetherness.
Practice pacing: Adjust your speed. Slow down your movements and your words so that your child has an opportunity to mirror your pacing.
Soften your voice: Get quieter. Shouting tends to further escalate an already dysregulated child. Instead, decrease the auditory load by using a softer voice.
Use fewer words: Limit the amount of talking you do. In moments of dysregulation, language is very difficult to process. Focus instead on calming and connecting through preferred sensory inputs, such as firm hugs.
Need some more tips to support your child’s regulation? Schedule a time to talk to us today!
