Preventing overstimulation with these relaxing activities

Prevent overstimulation? Of course, it doesn’t always work. But be alert and obsess your child so that you can offer effective calming techniques in time to help your child relax and avoid overstimulation. (And that are also applicable to yourself as an adult).

What are calming techniques?

Calming strategies for your child are activities that help your child regulate the following common emotions and can ultimately prevent overstimulation or a meltdown:

• Anxiety
• Anger
• Too much excitement
• Tension

There are many different activities that can help our children when they feel upset, anxious, or excited. Most of the activities I mention below can also be applied to adults to regulate themselves.

Soothing strategies usually fall into one or more of these categories:

• Relaxation methods
• Problem-solving skills
• Distraction from triggers or difficult situations
• Self-regulation strategies
• Emotion recognition
• Emotion control
• Coping strategies

Calming strategies for children

Breathing exercises for children

• Blow soap bubbles
• Place pompom balls on a leaf with a maze and let your child move them while blowing through a straw
• Deep Breathing as Mom/Dad Counts to 10
• Yoga breathing techniques
• Mindfulness and Meditation exercises (the well-known body scan)
• Muscle relaxation exercises: Help your child systematically tighten and relax muscles in a certain order. Practice with a stress ball.
• Grab a hug tightly and cuddle
• Give your child a massage

Preventing overstimulation due to physical activity

Use physical activity to burn off energy. This is a distraction strategy that can work very well in processing stimuli and emotions, such as:

• Bouncing on a skippy ball
• Jumping (on trampoline)
• Running
• Cycling
• Dancing to music

Apply deep pressure to your child to calm down

Many children find deep pressure very soothing. After all, it makes them feel safe and secure. Comparable to a firm hug. Here are some examples of how to apply deep pressure:

• Weighted blankets
• Weighted toys
• The snuggle huggle of bodysox
• Use the deep pressure roller

Various sensory techniques to help your child unwind

• Watch the relaxing movement of droplets in a lava lamp or liquid hourglass.
• Use lighting to calm your children. Think of a night light projector.
• Soothing sounds
• Use sensory bottles
• Swinging (sensory swing)
• Essential oils (aromatheraputty or oil)

Preventing overstimulation due to a change of environment

At times, leaving the situation is the best way to restore peace. Examples of this calming technique can be:

• Take your child to another room in the house
• Go for a walk with your child

Change of activity to prevent overstimulation

Another calming strategy is to divert attention from the problems that are causing the problem. A very handy strategy to prevent overstimulation and to recharge yourself as a parent. Here are some suggestions:

• Let your child watch a TV program
• Play a game together or let your child play computer games for a while
• Offer your child to read a book or comic or read to your child
• Give your child play sand or clay (sensory play)
• Have your child draw a picture
• Listening to music
• Playing with fidget toys

Using imagination to calm down

• Let your child think about things that make him happy
• Have your child write down their concerns on paper and tear and throw away the piece

Other calming suggestions for your child

Help your child express his feelings. Recognizing and being able to express emotions helps to calm down and relax. And teach your child problem-solving skills.

• You can use the “Stop/Think/Do” technique: Stop when you’re angry / Think about what alternatives you have to solve the problem / Apply the chosen strategy.
• Let your child start counting until he feels more relaxed
• Have your child evaluate the day based on basic emotions (with sleep chat, face book or the emotion stones)

Useful calming tips for your child

• Keep all products that help your child to calm themselves in a fixed place. If necessary, make a snoezel spot and use a sensory box
• Use calming strategy cards. Make the different techniques that your child can choose from in the event of imminent overstimulation visual. Use our attached infographic for this.

Do you have any tips to help prevent overstimulation ?

Other interesting articles

• Read more about Deep pressure and relaxation
• Reinforcement, how do you use it effectively?
• Tools for sensitive children

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