Calming strategies

Calming strategies to help your child RETURN to the Green zone

Breathing Techniques

1.  Lazy 8 Breathing – begin with your finger on the star. Trace around the left side of the eight slowly while breathing in. Then trace around the right side of the eight while breathing out.

2.  Star Breathing – Begin at any point of the star. Trace your finger along the edge of the star and follow the      sequence: Breath in for 2 beats, pause and hold 1 beat, breath out for 2 beats. If your child is unable to read, read the prompts aloud for them as they trace along the edge of the star.

Sensory Techniques

1. Squeeze Lemons – Use your hands to squeeze pretend lemons or a stress ball 5-10 times slowly.

2. Take a break! – Go to a quiet space in your home, like your room or in a child size tent to take a break. Help your child create a calm space by placing pillows, a weighted blanket, weighted lap pad, or a regular blanket into the corner of their room or in a small tent. They can practice other calming strategies here as well!

3. Drink through a straw – Drinking water through a straw is a great way to help calm down one’s body. Or you can use a water bottle with a resistive lid to drink through.

4.  Close your eyes and count to 10 slowly

 

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It is important to know zones of regulation to help with self regulation and self calming. This little one is using coloring to calm his body! Not only does this help him calm his body, but coloring is also working on his fine motor skills! #TuesdayTip #pediatrictherapy #sensory #OT #finemotorskills #development

A post shared by ABC Pediatric Therapy (@abcpedtherapy) on Mar 24, 2020 at 1:47pm PDT

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