Let’s Talk About Co-Regulation
At Elemenoe, we emphasize the nurturing process of co-regulation as a way for caring adults to support children in developing crucial self-regulation skills. Self-regulation, which involves consciously managing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, plays a significant role in a child's emotional growth and resilience. Young children often rely on adults for co-regulation as they gradually acquire their own self-regulation abilities. Here are some practical tips to facilitate co-regulation with your child and promote their journey toward self-regulation:
Tune in to your child's cues. Pay attention to subtle signals that indicate your child may be feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. Research has shown that tuning into these cues allows adults to effectively support children in managing their emotions.
Provide appropriate language models. Help your child identify and express their emotions by using phrases like "I’m frustrated!” or “I want that!" This approach encourages emotional recognition and expression, fostering self-awareness and emotional literacy (Domitrovich, Cortes, & Greenberg, 2007).
Promote communication. Encourage and validate your child's attempts to communicate their feelings. If you’ve modelled appropriate language for the situation and your child attempts to communicate, encourage them! You can say, “thanks for telling me how you feel!”
Adults need to take a moment sometimes, too. Recognize and manage your own emotions, as children often learn emotional regulation by observing the adults around them (Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Eggum, 2010).
When you feel overwhelmed. When feeling overwhelmed, taking a moment to breathe or requesting help from another adult can provide the space needed to support both yourself and your child.
Model coping skills. Modelling your own healthy coping strategies, such as saying "I need a moment to calm down," can serve as a powerful example for children as they learn to regulate their own emotions.
At Elemenoe, we know that supporting children's emotional regulation can be challenging. That’s why we sometimes introduce a “Comfort book” or kit for our neurodiverse learners in the clinic. We teach simple strategies like “rainbow breathing” and “breathing hands,” giving them extra tools to use when they need them.
We also recommend teaching and coaching during calm moments, allowing children to learn and practice self-regulation in a safe and nurturing environment.
Our psychotherapy and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programs are designed to target emotional regulation and help children develop vital self-regulation skills.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can assist you and your child in the journey towards fostering self-regulation and emotional resilience. Our psychotherapist and/or ABA sessions often directly address emotional regulation skills, helping your child to better understand and manage their emotions.
Call us today or schedule a free consultation online.
