Teach Primary Issue 18.4

www.teachwire.net | 67 HE A L TH & WE L L BE I NG S P E C I A L Viv Trask-Hall offers some tried-and-tested techniques to help children who are feeling overwhelmed N o doubt many of us will have experienced situations when things get too much for our pupils, and their feelings become imbalanced. This can be described as ‘overwhelm’ – when children have a strong emotional response that they can't regulate. How can we spot it? Aggression is the easiest sign of overwhelm to identify. It can be displayed as physical or verbal aggression to other people or to the child’s immediate environment. Even though this behaviour might make us feel angry or threatened, it’s important to see it as a symptom some children present when they are feeling out of control and their mental health and wellbeing is out of balance. Agitation can be exhibited in various ways, including quick movement, nail-biting, leg tremors and sleeve-chewing. This behaviour is often a form of self-soothing. It can also be the result of children’s anxiety about what's coming next: they are not able to be fully present in the moment because they're always thinking about the next thing. Over-adaptation is when a child puts the adult’s needs above their own interests. So instead of going out to play, they will ask if they can stay in and tidy the bookshelf. Children often do this because they feel more regulated when they're able to help and support an adult. It’s a fine line, of course. We want them to be helpful, but if this behaviour is getting in the way of themmeeting their own needs, then this is over-adaptation. Incapacitation is another sign. This is when children let you know that something isn't quite right with them physically. It might be tummy pain or earache, and they then become fixated on having their needs met through that condition. The natural response of many adults will be to just treat the physical discomfort, but sometimes children are expressing these symptoms in order to say, “I don't know how to tell you how I feel, so I'm going to let you know that my body is physically unwell.” So, what can we do to tackle overwhelm? Well, there is a range of tools and approaches we can use that can help with feelings of overwhelm. It’s not a one-size-fits-all situation, so it is worth exploring different options so that you can arrive at a set of strategies that work best for your children. Solutions for stress Create a stress regulation toolkit tailored to your setting. For example, you could make a ‘calm-down corner’, with a drawer or box full of objects that will help children to learn about themselves, their emotions, and stress regulation skills. These tangible objects might be squashy balls, a bead threaded on a length of jumbo pipe cleaner that can be moved up and down, or a malleable chunk of playdough. Once a child has found an object that works, it can really help them to ground themself in the moment. It’s up to us as adults to get curious about these objects and think about how they could be used. And we need to be present alongside the children as they build confidence in what they find. Pressure sources A heavy shawl or a weighted blanket can also help a child who is experiencing overwhelm. Wrapping themselves up creates a feeling of containment a bit like receiving a hug – giving the child a sense of safety. Better breathing There are various breathing techniques that you can employ to help you and your children. One is box breathing. Imagine a box in front of you. Breathe in and count to four, moving up the side of the box, then hold the breath and count to four as you move across the top. Exhale to the count of four moving down the other side of the box, then hold for four as you move back to the start. Repeat several times. Bee breathing is another useful tool to master. Putting your fingers just in front of your ears, start to hum or buzz like a bee. This creates a vibrato that can help to regulate the cranium’s vagus nerve. It’s a simple technique that can help to calm and soothe your whole body. A breathing buddy can really help breathing control too. I have a small cuddly dove that I place on my stomach while I lie on the floor. The aim is to focus on keeping that little bird moving up and down without falling off. This careful movement helps to control your breath, and that helps with your self-regulation, slowing down your heart rate and reducing your blood pressure. TP Taking a MOMENT Viv Trask-Hall is head of Product and Innovation at Thrive (thriveapproach.com) , which trains teachers and other education professionals to support children’s wellbeing.