Regulation Resources
Give BIG ENERGY a channel!
Behavior is communication. Young kids, especially, use their bodies to show us how they feel and what they need. Parenting preschool and elementary kids means becoming an expert in decoding non-verbal signals.
While we can’t prevent every meltdown, we can give big energy and off-track behavior other outlets, before upsets erupt over the red cup, the show ending, or the not-quite-right dinner offering.
Whether you have a kid with the wiggles or a need to be constantly entertained, leading with a strategic dose of undivided attention and regular opportunities for rough’n’tumble play can help off-load intensity before it arrives.
Play isn’t magic; it’s essential. What other ideas do you have for whole-body, full-contact, multi-sensory play? Give that energy a place to go!
Feel it. Without getting flooded.
Parenthood requires A LOT of emotional capacity. It takes a lot of intention to dig deep and keep your cool—especially when kids are losing it!
In moments of intensity and frustration, you can access a sturdy steadiness—by tapping into your senses. Your body, breath, and physical environment can help you regulate. So stressful moments feel less like an emergency.
Why does this work? Because 80% of the signals to our brain about how to respond under stress—fight, flight or freeze—are sent from our body, to our brain. By slowing down our automatic responses, we’re not magically chill—but we are A LOT less reactive. And more available for connection and problem-solving.
When your brain and body agree: Big behavior is not an emergency, you can respond, instead of react. You’ve got this!