12/19/2025
Regulation before reflection.🪞
If you’re a parent, you may feel unsure how to best support your child as they come home from school or after-school activities. Transitions can be hard, and every child has different needs for how they want to reconnect after a long day.
I’ve seen the attached post circulating online, and while I haven’t been able to locate the original research source to verify the specific claims (possibly attributed to psychotherapist Isabelle Filliozat), there is research showing a strong relationship between family routines and children’s emotional regulation. I chose to share this because the core message is an important one.
Before processing the day, many kids, and adults, need time to regulate their nervous systems. Lower stimulation, quiet moments, and space to decompress can help set the stage for meaningful connection later.
This is especially worth keeping in mind as we move into busy end-of-year schedules, school breaks, and holiday activities. Connection doesn’t disappear when we pause; it often deepens once regulation comes first.
⏸️
Screenshots courtesy of Arsalan Moin at Psychological Treatment on Facebook.