Parenting with patience is rewarding, exhausting but doable. It’s about being present in the moment and thinking of the wellbeing of all.
It is easy to yell, scream, throw a fit yourself and send them on their way. But that modelling – of you having an adult version of the tantrum – is not supporting the matter. Parenting with patience is rewarding, exhausting but doable. It’s about being present in the moment and thinking of the wellbeing of all.
I encourage you to develop these safe spaces, calming centres and developing mindfulness tools, to support your little one and essentially yourself. Because at the end of a long day, don’t we all want to go to our room?
Calming Spaces May Include:
- Calm Down Kit (with parental support and guidance)
- Soft/natural lighting
- Soft non-threating wall colour
- Limited/no electronics
- Limited materials (more physical clutter = more mental clutter)
- Soft seating
- Reading materials
- Sensory activities (with parental support & guidance)
Calm Down Kit Idea:
- Colouring
- Play dough with lavender (2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water + essential oils or dried lavender)
- Bubbles – you cannot blow bubbles angrily…trust me!
- Sensory bottles
- Stress ball
- Mindfulness/yoga picture book such as, ‘1-2-3 A Calmer Me‘ by Colleen Patterson
- Soothing/instrumental music
- Self-regulation tool such as, ‘Zones of Regulation’
Lisa Cheaney- Hogan, MEd., OCT, BEd., BASc, ECE, lives in Ontario, Canada.
