I’m noticing that children who were born shortly before the pandemic are taking longer to warm up to me than the 2-year-olds I’ve seen prior to “these unprecedented times”. So I’m implementing the same rules I use for children who are demonstrating signs of anxiety, such as those with selective mutism: talking is rewarded, but …
Category: Zones of Regulation
Regulation Tool: Hot Cocoa Breaths
I’m loving this zones tool, which I got from here! I don’t have chocolate markers (and some of my telehealth kids don’t, either) so I just use a completely pretend version. To use this tool have a child pretend they’re holding a cup of hot cocoa. Have them first take a deep breath in through …
Somatosensory Training with Books
One of the things that helped me the most with my struggles with anxiety was somatosensory training. At its most basic, somatosensory training helps us learn to pay attention to the way emotions feel in our bodies. This then allows us to address these emotions and keep ourselves regulated throughout the day. I love Listening …
Regulation Tool: Mermaid Pillows
I just love these pillow cases! I also bought these inserts to go with them. Every regulation tool can be used for any zone and they can have different effects on each child, but Mermaid Pillows seem to most often help kids who are in the yellow zone and feeling worried, overwhelmed, scared, or frustrated. …
Zones of Regulation Poster Companion
To continue the topic from my blog last month, once children are able to identify others’ emotions based on their facial expression they can then learn to identify their own emotions. Once they’re able to do that then they’re able to start identifying strategies to help keep their behavior “expected” by addressing their emotions as …