Parenting can be challenging, and sometimes it feels like everything is happening all at once. From new schedules to lost items, it can be easy to become overwhelmed and stressed. As a parent, it's essential to practice self-regulation skills, not just for ourselves but also for our children. In this blog post, we'll explore why self-regulation skills are crucial for parents and how practicing them can benefit our kids.
Recently, I found myself in a situation where I needed a reminder to take a few deep breaths and calm down. It had been a challenging week, starting daycare, fighting naps, and dealing with daylight savings. I was close to the edge, but I knew I needed to find a moment to recenter myself.
During my children's naptime, I went outside, picked up one of my affirmation cards, and read it aloud. I took ten deep breaths, and I instantly felt calmer. But why did I do this?
Firstly, calm is contagious, just like anxiety. As parents, our moods and emotions can significantly impact our children's behavior and well-being. When we find ways to recenter ourselves and find calm, we can share and spread it with our kids.
Secondly, self-regulation skills are not innate; they need to be taught and practiced. As parents, we are our children's role models, and they learn from our behavior. If we practice self-regulation skills, our children will be more likely to follow our lead and develop these skills themselves.
Practicing self-regulation skills is crucial for parents, and we can benefit from it in many ways. By finding moments to recenter ourselves and model positive behavior for our children, we can help them develop these skills themselves. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take a few deep breaths, and remember that practicing self-regulation skills is a practice that can benefit both you and your children.
"I am calm. When things are difficult, I take 10 deep breaths" is part of Metta Play bilingual affirmation card pack available here https://mettaplay.com/products/affirmation-cards