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Articles About Emotional Regulation
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners: Creating safe and effective regulation spaces at home and in the classroom. A regulation space — also sometimes called a zen zone, chill zone, sensory space, or calming corner — is a safe and quiet area where a person can go to regulate (i.e. “calm down”) when they are feeling overwhelmed.
Supporting Loved Ones Through Meltdowns
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
You’re doing everything right. You’ve read all the books on parenting and emotional co-regulation. You’ve provided a safe space where they can calm down when they are dysregulated, and have learned to stay calm no matter what. You're doing everything right and still things are not getting any better. Now what?
When The Help Doesn't Help
How To Set Up Chill Zones Or Calming Corners
When The Help Doesn't Help
Further advice for supporting loved ones through meltdowns. You’ve read all the books on your loved one’s condition or neurology, you’ve read all about emotional regulation. I offer additional tips for when you’re doing everything right and still you feel as though nothing’s working.
Interoception & Regulation
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
When The Help Doesn't Help
Read my article about the importance of interoception and how it relates to developing and improving emotional regulation skills.
Exploring Co-Regulation
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
Read my article about the importance of co-regulation and how co-regulating with children allows them to develop their emotional self-regulation skills.
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
Give Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.
Read my article, Giving Your Child A V.O.I.C.E.: Teaching skills for emotional regulation. The first step to raising considerate, compassionate children is being considerate, compassionate parents.
Regulation Zones, or "Chill" Zones
An important note for adults:
- There are no "good" or "bad" feelings, all feelings are important signals to us about what we are experiencing.
- Regulation is important so our emotions don't overtake us, and our behaviour does not cause harm to ourselves or others.
- A chill zone or calming area should never be used as a threat, punishment, or rejection of a child.
- The zone is intended to provide a calm, quiet space for a child to seek support and develop emotional self-regulation skills.
Suggestions & Ideas for Calming Centres
Sensory items
Children (and many adults) have often not yet learned what works best for them (us), it is helpful to have a variety of options available for them to try. It may be mort helpful to offer a variety of sensory and fidget items.
Stuffies & weighted blankets
Stuffed toys are comforting, even for "big" kids. If the children or students are old enough to be self-conscious about snuggling a stuffy, you can try to include older-themed stuffed toys and weighted blankets based on current popular trends.
Books & puzzles
Some children regulate well through engaging their mind in something else entirely. Calm, quiet activities such as reading, doing a puzzle, colouring, or playing with play-dough can be highly beneficial.
Ear protection & privacy screens
If you're setting up a chill zone in your classroom, you may consider some form of privacy screen for students who become visually distracted or over-stimulated, or who may feel embarrassed by their big emotions. Keeping a basket of ear protectors can also help for those who become overwhelmed by loud environments. At home, you can set up a tent or make one out of a light blanket for kids who like to hide.
Colouring books & notebooks
Appropriate for the child's developmental stage and interests: Colouring items or a notebook to write out one's thoughts can help children process, or they can draw and allow their mind to focus on something else while their body calms down.
Music, mindfulness, or meditation
Depending on the environment, soft music might be helpful. Some kids might prefer happy, energetic music to move their body and shake out their tension. A mindfulness or meditation recording might be helpful as well, there are many excellent guided meditation and mindfulness exercises available for free on various apps.
Set the example
Children will be more likely to use their self-regulation strategies if they see the adults in their lives using theirs. Parents can work alongside children to make their own calming kits to demonstrate to their children that everyone experiences big feelings and needs tools to regulate themselves.
Emotional Regulation Support for Adults
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
Why do Autistics and people with ADHD seem to get worked up so easily? Why do we seem to be more "sensitive" than others, more emotional, or hot-tempered? I explain why neurodivergent folks often struggle with dysregulation.
Keeping Our Cool
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
Keeping Our Cool With Your Kids: Evidence-based, practical strategies for remaining calm when children we care for are experiencing intense emotions.
Emotional Co-Regulation
ADHD, Autism, And Emotions
What Have You Done For You Lately?
Co-regulation is essential for any relationship. We provide co-regulation for a distressed loved one when our tone, body language, facial expressions, and words all convey calm, comfort, and safety.
What Have You Done For You Lately?
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
What Have You Done For You Lately?
Self Care Makes Us Better Parents, Partners, And Professionals. It's not a tired old cliché - okay, it is, but it's still true. I promise I won't recommend yoga. There’s nothing wrong with yoga, meditation, mindfulness, or any of those general “self-care” activities people tend to recommend, but you won’t find those here...
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
Nothing against yoga or meditation, I'm just talking smaller picture. Smaller daily stressors are insidious because they tend to slowly chip away at our reserves, sometimes without us even noticing (especially if we struggle with self-awareness).
The Day I Could Have Lost My Mind (But Didn’t)
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
The day I could have lost my mind, but didn't. It starts out like any typical Saturday morning. I make my way into the city from our rural home to meet with a client and am there for less than two hours. By the time I start to head back, there is a full-on blizzard happening, complete with zero visibility.
More articles about emotions
More articles about emotions
More articles about emotions
A series of articles all about emotions: emotional regulation, co-regulation, self-regulation, and interoception.
Further Support & Resources
My Supports & Services
My favourite books about emotions
My favourite books about emotions
Click to view a full list of services and supports offered by Neurodiversity Manitoba. A formal diagnosis is not required.
My favourite books about emotions
My favourite books about emotions
My favourite books about emotions
Click for a full list of my favourite books about emotions and emotional regulation, recommended by Neurodiversity Manitoba.