Co-Regulating Emotions
Some thoughts and resources from Rachel Chrastil, licensed family educator and WWP parent, who led our Parent Connect group today.
Simple (but not easy!) steps for co-regulating/supporting self-regulation:
Stay Calm and Present: Model calm behavior by staying composed, using a soothing voice, and maintaining a gentle presence to help your toddler feel secure.
Validate Feelings with Simple Language: Acknowledge their emotions (e.g., "I see you're upset") to help them feel understood, and guide them in expressing their feelings.
Observe and Decide How to Respond: Are they calming down, or do they need more support? Based on that, decide how to move forward—whether it’s a calming reminder, offering comfort with a gentle touch, or redirecting their attention.
Co-regulation is not just about helping the child, but also about the parent being mindful of their own emotional state.
Resources:
https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/developing-self-control-from-24-36-months/
https://heartmindonline.org/resources/12-self-regulation-strategies-for-young-children
https://childmind.org/article/what-is-co-regulation/
Scroll down to our article from April 2024 for more ideas.
