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Helping children to slow down and develop mindful awareness of what their bodies are telling them is a foundation for building self- regulation. Simply put, self-regulation is the process of monitoring and recognizing when arousal is too much and then doing something about it. However, this is not always a simple or straightforward process, and for children who have experienced trauma, this becomes even more challenging. They may be doing something in response to the arousal, but it may not be helping them to get their needs met.

 

A hungry child may be cranky or grumpy, a tired child may become squirmy and unfocused, a nervous child may feel their belly tighten or have shortness of breath. In some cases, children can become overwhelmed and dysregulated by the sensations they are experiencing, without understanding or knowing what is happening, or what to do. As the responsive parent, teacher, or caregiver, you may be the one to notice what is happening first, and then proceed to help them figure out what they need and help them get a better understanding of what they experienced. This external regulation process, which requires attunement on the part of the adult, helps to strengthen the relationship between the child and adult. From there, you can guide children so they can learn to move through this process on their own.

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To learn more about Gabi's mindfulness book for children, Listening to My Body , and to access free downloadable resources to use with your child, visit www.listeningtomybody.com