Door Alarms
Using door alarms on the outside of your child's bedroom door helps your child to feel a sense of felt-safety. You'll be able to hear when your child opens their door at night and will be able to be there immediately to keep them safe and let them know that you care about them and want to know what's going on. Check on Amazon for alarms that will fit your doors and are easy to install.
Blackout Curtains
At bedtime your brain starts producing melatonin to help you fall asleep and sleep through the night. This process is disrupted by light, and because your child needs lots of rest and sleep while healing (12 hours each day!), they often go to bed when it is still light outside. Blackout curtains keep their bedroom dark, helping their body to produce enough melatonin and helping them to sleep better and function better during the day.
Meal prep
Meal prep is a great way to take some of the stress out of meal times and make them a little bit smoother. Try a day of making casseroles for the freezer, or spending a couple of hours cutting, chopping, and planning during the weekend for the week ahead. This can be a great area to enlist the help of friends and family who are looking for ways to support you! It can also be used as bonding time with your child, especially older kiddos. OR - kick everyone else out of the house, put on your favourite show or playlist, and meal prep in peace!
Daily schedule
Kiddos with trauma need to have consistency and a predictable environment in order to feel safe and begin healing. The best way to do this is with a set daily schedule - this also makes parenting a lot easier! Schedule in wake up and bedtimes, meal times, snack times, bonding times, chores, school hours, and 6 R activities for the day. it will feel like ground hog day sometimes, but know that it is helping your child to feel safe and to be able to begin healing.
Simplify
If you haven't read "Simplicity Parenting" by Kim John Payne yet, I highly recommend you do! Simplifying you child's environment, schedule, daily routines, and media access is a great step to boost healing and felt safety. Some great areas to start in are simplifying outings and activities outside of the home, the amount of toys and "things" your child has, and clutter in the home.
Snuggle time basket
Snuggle times is one of the most important bonding times for you and your child. It can be hard to get in during the day and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Having a basket of items prepped and ready to go can make this time much easier! Grab a basket/box/bucket/container and put it beside your recline or snuggle time spot with the following items in it:
- small/baby-size cozy blanket
- pillow or cushion (to put under your arm)
- short stories/books
- song lyrics or song sheet with your favourite children's songs
- baby game words/actions sheet
- caramels
- Kleenex
Structured play basket
Again - organization and prep can make this therapeutic tool much easier to use! In a basket/box/container/pile-on-the-washer put together items for structured playtime:
- small blanket or rug for boundaries
- small amount of Lego (bricks and boards)
- play dough
- blank paper and pencils
- story book
- blocks/building toy
Keep it simple and minimal to keep your child from being overwhelmed.
Bruce Perry/6 R box
If you can't tell by now, I'm a big fan of baskets and boxes for things! Keep a set of 6 R activity items ready to go for when it's time to connect, have fun, and build healthy brains!
- squishy or plush balls for catch
- frisbee
- jump ropes
- string for cat's cradle
- Boomwhackers
- scarves for dancing
(In the summer this box sits by my backdoor so it is always easily accessible and a reminder to get outside and have some fun!)
Brain-Based Behaviour Intervention program set-up
The Brain-Based behaviour Intervention program is one of the best therapeutic tools to help your child with healing and brain development. However, it can be a bit overwhelming for parents when first starting out with the many parts and pieces it has. Here are a few ways to make it easier:
- Set up your mini tramp in a place that is out of the way but in your line of vision - this usually takes some furniture rearranging. If you have two mini tramps, having one outside in the summer is a great way to get fresh air while brain shifting!
- Set a spot for strong sitting with a small rug (one spot per child). Find an area that is out of main thoroughfare but within your line of sight and an area where your child can face away from all distractions. Your child will feel less anxiety and a greater sense of belonging when they have their own spot that is always in the same place.
- For teens, have a set spot where they go to work on their Brain-Based Behaviour Intervention journal. Again, make the spot their own so they know where to go each time they need to.
- Keep a notebook handy to keep track of the "what happened" and what brain shifter they are working on (it can take so long sometimes for them to do it that you forget!), and a list of the restitutions they need to complete.
Chore list
Chores can be such a hassle with our little people that if we don't get it organized it often gets dropped, and our kiddos need chores to be able to participate with the family, help the family unit, and learn valuable life skills. Make a list or chart of daily chores for each child, as well as a running list of additional chores that need to be done. This way, when chore time comes around each day you will be a prepared and empowered parent! And when something happens and extra chores are needed, you'll have your list of chores that you want done ready to go (then you get to sit back with a cup of coffee and relax, that's the rule).
Take a day (or two) to prep, plan, and focus, and boost your parenting into high gear! We're rooting for you!
If some of these therapeutic practices are new to you, they are all taught in our Online Therapeutic Parenting Course:
