Co-Regulation Through Creativity: How Art Therapy Supports Emotional Regulation in Children
Children don’t learn emotional regulation on their own—they develop it through co-regulation with safe, attuned caregivers. Art therapy offers a powerful way to support this process, providing children with a non-verbal outlet for emotions while reinforcing safety and connection. This post explores how art therapy helps children process big feelings, externalize emotions, and experience co-regulation through creative expression. Learn practical ways to use art at home to support your child’s emotional well-being and build deeper connections through creativity.
How Art Therapy Helps Children Express Big Feelings
Art therapy provides children with a powerful way to express emotions when words feel out of reach. By combining creative expression with parts work, littles can externalize their feelings, making them easier to understand and process. Whether it’s drawing an “angry part” as a stormy cloud or a “sad part” as a droopy flower, art becomes a safe space for self-discovery and healing. This post explores how art therapy helps children connect with their emotions, embrace all parts of themselves, and find comfort in knowing they’re not alone.
How to Nurture Highly Sensitive Children: Balancing Sensory Overload and Emotional Growth
Highly Sensitive Children (HSCs) are deeply attuned to their surroundings, which can make them more emotionally reactive and sensitive to sensory input. Their heightened awareness, though sometimes misinterpreted, is a result of their unique brain wiring. These children often excel in empathy, noticing subtle emotional cues and feeling deeply for others. However, their sensitivity can lead to sensory overload and emotional exhaustion if not properly supported. A key to helping HSCs thrive is fostering self-awareness, teaching emotional regulation, and creating a balanced environment that allows them to process the world at their own pace. By recognizing their sensitivity as a strength, we can nurture their emotional resilience and empower them to grow into compassionate and connected individuals.
Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Understand Big Feelings
Learn the gentle art of sensation tracking—an accessible practice to connect with your body’s signals, emotions, and needs. Discover how to help children and yourself identify and respond to physical sensations like tension, warmth, or tightness, fostering interoception and emotional regulation. This approach teaches us to name and address sensations rather than internalize emotions like sadness or anxiety, helping to transform self-perception and promote mindfulness. Perfect for caregivers, parents, or anyone seeking a deeper relationship with their body.
Embracing the Messiness: Dysregulation as communication not dysfunction
Dysregulation, often seen as a disruption in one's ability to self-regulate, can manifest in various forms. It might appear as intense emotions that feel overwhelming, impulsive actions, or even chaotic thoughts. While traditionally viewed through a lens of dysfunction or pathology, there's a growing recognition that dysregulation can actually serve a purpose, offering valuable insights into our inner workings and external environments.