When children who have experienced trauma come ot school, they may be unable to control their emotional responses and act out in physical ways when they are upset. Through recent brain science research, we understand the physiology of strong emotion and have discovered that both adults and children benefit when they learn self-regulation skills.
Self-regulation is the ability to recognize, manage and modulate one’s own emotions and emotional responses and behaviors. This set of skills may be the most important tools your students learn.
We know that our classrooms run more smoothly when our students are regulated and have the ability to self-regulate when they begin to feel overly excited, stressed, or disappointed. Studies also show that kids learn more easily when they are regulated, so it is empowering to know that we can teach them these skills!
Understand “Flipped Lids” (dysregulation)
When humans feel strong emotions like anger or fear, the amygdala sends out a signal in the form of a neurochemical that throws our brains into survival mode. The higher level thinking part of our brains goes offline; reasoning, logic, the ability to plan, choose, or empathize all become inaccessible in that moment.
Check out our resources for understanding and teaching the science behind flipping your lid, including two new videos and handouts in multiple languages.
Recognize the power of mirror neurons
Humans are hard wired to mirror what we see. If we teachers are trying to problem solve with kids who have flipped their lids or are dysregulated, we may end up becoming dysregulated ourselves. If we can notice that the student’s lid is flipped, and can practice our own self-calming strategies, the student can co-regulate from our calm, which is their best chance to regulate and reconnect with their thinking brain.
Build Emotional Vocabulary
Books are great mediums to teach about emotions. Wonder aloud and discuss the feelings of characters in the books you read. Collect synonyms for our main emotions of sad, mad, glad, and scared, which will inspire better writing and a more nuanced ability for students to name their own emotions. The ability to name our emotions is proven to calm our brains.
Exercise Self-regulation Muscles
Teach activities that help children to sustain and regain calmness. Practice them again and again each day at regular intervals and when your classroom seems dysregulated. One of our partner schools, Terminal Park Elementary, had great success when they implemented school-wide self-regulation skills practice.
Remember that some of these should be active: walking, rhythms, jumping and cross body movement while others can be more meditative. Check out our self-regulation card pack – we’ve compiled 60 ideas in handy format.
Create a Cool Down Space
In some classrooms it is called Antarctica or the freezer…a place to chill out. Whatever your class decides to name it, it is a quiet refuge in your room with tools to help kids self-regulate. It is important that your class designs it, so that they feel ownership of this space. Your students may decide to include mindfulness books, soft pillows, stuffed animals, coloring pages or other tools. The cool down space is not used as a punishment, this corner is a place that a student can go to regroup. It is a place you might offer as a choice when you see that a student is beginning to become dysregulated.
Relationship, relationship, relationship.
We got into teaching because we wanted to make a difference. We care deeply! This is hard work, and sometimes, especially when we are stressed, our message of caring is not perceived by our students. Students need to know that you are on their side…even when they are struggling. Fostering caring relationships with your students, and among your students, is a powerful way to inspire the development of self-regulation skills. When we have a deep connection with another person, it releases oxytocin in our brains, promoting calm, closeness and openness. This is the state where students are best able to learn.
To learn more about self-regulation strategies and tools, sign up for our online Reimagining Resilience workshop – you can join us from anywhere to explore how brain science and restorative practices can be used to create safe and inclusive spaces where all youth can succeed.