Tips/Strategies for Emotional Regulation

Source: https://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Support Strategies for When Your Young Person is Worried

 Check they can express why they are feeling worried. Pause and give them time to process this, at least 10 seconds, and give them the chance to respond.

 Do they need reassurance about what they are doing?

 Do they need you to write down what they are doing?

 Do they need help with something?

 Is the situation different or new to them? Even good changes can be challenging if they haven’t had time to process.

 Is the environment too busy, noisy or bright? If so, they could put headphones on or take a mini break in a low sensory environment.

 If they are worried it is best to be their calm person, talk less, positive reassurance that you can guarantee and give them time, so a mini break or leave what you are doing for another time.

Support Strategies for When Your Young Person is Feeling Confused

 Check to see if today is very different than their usual routine and what can you do to provide certainty?

 Is there communication breakdown, for example are they being pressured to talk a lot? Are there too many communication demands?

 Are you asking a lot of questions? Questions can be anxiety provoking for many Neurodiverse people, comments are much less demanding.

 Write a checklist

 Break things down into achievable chunks if doing an activity or job.

 Check, can they achieve this right now or do you need to break things down even more. Remember modelling what they can do will be a positive strategy around confusing situations.

 When showing them what they can do, check in to see they understand by asking him to show you.

 If they are still feeling confused, stop what you are doing and take a break together, give them some quiet time without talking, the less you say the less confused they will be.

Ideas for When Your Young Person is Feeling Overwhelmed

 Immediately lower your expectations that may be contributing to them feeling overwhelmed, like doing too many things, trying anything new, being in crowds, expectation of talking to others.

 Reduce your language, and lower your voice to a soft tone.

 Try modelling taking long, slow deep breaths but don’t expect them to do this until they feel less overwhelmed.

 Listen to music, headphones on, drink some water, a quiet low sensory space. Take a break, get some fresh air.

 Counting aloud to 10 slowly once they feel less overwhelmed.