At Lakeland Ridge we are taking intentional steps to enhance understanding and awareness of regulation and how our brains work with both students and staff. Our goal is to nurture emotional resilience and well-being among our students and school community.
Below are a sampling of regulatory strategies that we're practicing at the school to keep our amygdalas calm. Try some of these at home!
Here is a great regulation practice that you can practice with your child at home over the break!
5 Things Exercise - Try to write them down or say them out loud.
This focused attention strategy is a good one to use when you are having overwhelming emotions as this helps guide your mind back to calm and redirects your thoughts.
To try out previous week's regulation strategies, check out the Regulation Strategies page on our school website.
Start from the top of your body, clenching your face, hands and abdomen and hold for 10 seconds (try to hold your breath as well). Release after the 10 seconds and breathe out. Try this again 3 times (10 seconds in between each clench and release). Here is what you should look like! This is an example of a body grounding activity. Body grounding activities are beneficial for students as they help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance emotional regulation.
Start by moving your right-hand up and down in a rollercoaster-like motion, then at the SAME time move your left-hand side to side like a slithering snake. Try keeping these motions going for 20-30 seconds (if you can!) If you reach Expert mode, try switching arm movements while in motion!
Begin with your hands at your sides. As you inhale, slowly raise your arms until your palms touch above your head with straight arms, imagining that you are painting a rainbow with your fingertips! As you exhale, gently lower your hands to your sides, painting a rainbow from the top down. Repeat!