Teacher Claire's Sing and Play Studio

Is your child upset/super silly/angry/ not Listening or exhibiting other challenging behaviors? 

Children under the age of seven do not have reasoning skills. in order to teach them problem solving skills, they need to be out of the fight or flight response.

The first thing to do is to stay calm and help them calm down. This is called coregulation. We bring them our sense of calm. Then we teach once they are calm.

These ideas are not magic or fool proof. They are just suggestions 

Strategies to support your child through big feelings and moments of dysregulation 

Flip It 

Step 1 validate feelings “ I see that you are feeling sad/ frustrated/silly/ disappointed 

Step 2 set a limit ex. It’s ok to feel sad/ frustrated etc. however I can’t let you hit/ run/ throw/ 

Step 3 get curious if you don’t know why the behavior caused by feelings is happening give your child the words if they can’t tell you

Step 4 ask what can we do to help you listen, feel better, be safe, be kind, 

If your child says I don’t know offer two choices 

Step 5 prompt Provide creative cues, clues, and suggestions for children having difficulty problem-solving. Enthusiastic, bright ideas can lead the way to better problem-solving skills

Ex if your child isn’t listening say “ can i call you on my special phone to tell you my message … ring ring” 

Redirection strategies 

Give them ownership by providing two choices you can live with

Do you want to brush your teeth first or put your pajamas on first? 

1 2 3 you or me 

Ask them if they want to do it or have you assist

Have them pretend to be a superhero/ princess/ dog etc. 

What do superheroes do? 

Calming strategies 

Deep breaths- smell a cookie blow out the birthday candles

Songs that encourage regulation skills- sleeping bunnies/ the goldfish song/ the airplane song/ freeze dance/ any song that has directions or fast and slow or start/ stop parts. 

Remember play is their language so even if it sounds counter intuitive or like they don’t deserve it, play powered strategies will help your child change their brain state and redirect them to a more logical brain state where they will have the ability to problem solve.