11/11/2025
One of the most powerful tools we have as parents or carers is co-regulation: the way a childβs nervous system takes cues from our own.
When a child is overwhelmed, anxious, or having a meltdown, theyβre not being difficult, theyβre stuck in fight or flight and their brain is signalling that it needs support.
Before they can βself-regulateβ, they often need to borrow our calm.
This looks like:
πΏ Slowing your breath so theirs can follow
πΏ Softening your voice and body language
πΏ Getting down to their level
πΏ Sitting nearby without pressure or demands
πΏ Offering connection instead of correction
Children donβt learn to regulate by being told to βcalm down.β They learn it by catching the calm from us.
Every time you show up with calm in the middle of the chaos, youβre wiring your childβs brain for resilience, connection and emotional safety π€