Emotional regulation is the ability to understand, manage, and respond to an emotional experience in an appropriate way. For children with autism, this can be incredibly difficult. They often experience heightened sensory sensitivity, challenges with communication, and higher levels of anxiety.
The goal of emotional regulation, then, is to help the child gain the necessary tools to cope with both everyday and unexpected stressors, enabling them to process their emotions more effectively.
If you have had a long summer of wishing your child had better emotional regulation skills, or have been proud of how far they have come up to this point, take a look at some reminders and tips to help your child with autism better manage their emotions.
- Model Self-Regulation
The most important goal, when you are trying to help your child to regulate, is to keep yourself regulated. Children pick up on the emotions of their parents, and learn from observing adult behaviors. This is especially true when figuring out how to manage stress and emotional upheaval.
By remaining composed and using techniques like deep breathing or sensory tools yourself, you can provide practical and relatable examples for your child to use independently one day. You also avoid exacerbating the behavior you are actively trying to regulate.
- Simplify Communication
During a stressful situation or sensory overload, your child’s ability to communicate quickly diminishes. It’s important in these times to simplify your communication to help your child with autism process information more easily.
Using concise and direct language can significantly reduce their cognitive load and make it easier for them to regulate. Instead of complex instructions like “I want you to apologize to your brother then come over here for a minute”, use simple, direct commands like “sit here.” Clear and simple directives are less likely to be misunderstood and easier to process.
Visual aids like premade picture cards or gestures can also help understanding, making instructions more concrete. A “pause” card with an image might help when you feel a big reaction is on its way, or a visual of a deep breath could be a reminder in a challenging moment.
- Teach Strategies in Calm Moments
When a child is in distress, they do not have the ability to process new strategies for coping. That’s why introducing emotion identification and new regulation tools should be done when the child is regulated.
You can begin by helping them recognize basic emotions, if they don’t know them already, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. Use flashcards that continue to be accessible to them, books, or videos that explain these emotions. Point out when you see these emotions while out in public.
The Zones of Regulation can also be a powerful tool to implement when trying to teach your child with autism to self-regulate. This framework categorizes emotions and states into four colored zones–blue, green, yellow, and red–to help the child identify what they are feeling in a more tangible way. You can create a visual chart of these zones at home, and regularly refer to it.
- Integrate Sensory Tools
Sensory tools can be particularly useful for your autistic child as they navigate environments that may overstimulate them. Weighted blankets, fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, or tactile items can provide the necessary sensory input that helps to calm and focus their mind.
For instance, a weighted blanket can provide deep pressure, mimicking a feeling of being held and reducing anxiety. Noise-canceling headphones can cut out some of the overwhelming sensory input in a more overstimulating environment. Incorporating these tools can help autistic children manage their sensory experiences, which in turn will enhance their capacity to self-regulate.
- Utilize ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy can be pivotal in teaching self-regulation. This method breaks down more complex behaviors into manageable steps, using positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate responses. By recognizing and rewarding behaviors like taking deep breaths when upset, ABA can help children internalize these practices.
An ABA therapist can also help identify your child’s triggers, and develop tailored coping strategies. Over time, they practice these strategies with them until they become routine.
Supporting your child in developing self-regulation skills is a continuous and often challenging process. By embracing these strategies, regularly integrating them, and reaching out to professionals, you can help your child gain greater control over their emotions, leading to improved behavior and social interactions.
At Gersh Academy, we understand the importance of these skills and offer programs and support designed to enhance our students’ ability to self-regulate effectively. For more information on what we can offer your child, don’t hesitate to reach out.
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