When Their Storm Meets Our Calm: The Art of Coordination
Your child laughing and playing joyfully, Did he immediately burst into tears when a peer nearby started crying?? This is because, the emotions and behaviors of people close to us, It directly affects how we feel and how we respond to our own emotions.. Just as adults are affected by the actions of others, Children also perceive the moods of others around them. But regulating emotions effectively and efficiently is not an innate skill.. A child's big emotions (Emotions that he cannot explain or understand how he feels) capacity to manage, depends on brain development and experiences. Because, when children feel sad or overwhelmed, from their caregivers to regulate their emotions and respond appropriately to external stressors. (parents, close relative or caregiver) they ask for help.
What does coregulation mean? ?
coregulation, regulation between adults and children (self-regulation) It is a supportive process that encourages the development of. The process of coregulation actually causes changes in the brain. neuroscience, When you co-regulate with someone, mirror neurons in the brain are activated, so the dysregulated person “mirrors” your calmness. (that it reflects) shows. Children constantly watch us for cues about how to feel and react, and they use their brains to meet the demands of the situation., need help from adults in their efforts to regulate their bodies and emotions. Therefore, before young children can regulate themselves, First of all, the adults around them, It is necessary to help them develop their support and self-regulation skills..
Why Coregulation is Important?
coregulation, is the basis for children learning how to self-regulate. In order for a child to move from a place where he exists with someone or others to a place where he is independent, he must first develop emotional intelligence and social emotional learning processes.. Caregiver coregulation, adults caring for children (parents, teachers, vb.) It allows them to establish emotional regulation by providing external support. These experiences, serves as structural scaffolding for children to develop skills to cope with strong emotions and external stressors.
How Can We Support Coregulation??
The best way to help your child improve regulation skills, by modeling and teaching them calming strategies and tools that they can learn to use on their own, to support them in co-regulation. When adults stay calm, children can feel calm and safe, too.. Children can listen better when they calm down or stay calm, they can learn and interact.
Strategies to support coregulation ;
Establish a Warm and Positive Relationship with Your Child
- Provide physical and emotional comfort when your child is distressed or dysregulated.
- Signaling your child's wants and needs, recognize and respond to its cues.
- Show interest in your child's world.
Organize the Environment
- Create a physically and emotionally safe environment for your child to explore and learn (This may include incorporating sensory supports if necessary).
- Provide consistent routines.
- Communicate expectations clearly.
- You can prepare a calming corner for your child to take a break when he is overwhelmed..
Coregulation between parent and child, It is very important especially in infancy and early childhood. babies, they rely directly on their parents to regulate their own emotions. Parents, is sensitive to the child's needs, The baby's stress level decreases, Calms down and emotional security is provided. emotional security, is an important precursor to learning and development.
Resources:
Bath, H.I. (2008). Calming together: The pathway to self-control. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 16, 4. pp. 44-46. Rosanbalm, K.D., & Murray, D.W. (2017). Caregiver Co-regulation Across Development: A Practice Brief. OPRE Letter #2017-80. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, US. Department of Health and Human Services.