How Modeling Supports Social-Emotional Learning
There’s a quote I love and live by. “Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional” - Carroll Bryant🤪
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One of the best things you can do while playing with your child is modeling play and regulation strategies. Their brains are truly like sponges and they watch everything we do. 🧽🧠
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Engaging with toys and modeling calmness though deep breaths are simple ways to teach play skills and mindful regulation strategies. This little one was unsure of my “finger monsters” so I began playing with them while she sat back and observed. By the end of our time together, she couldn’t get enough of these guys - using them in so many different ways while building so many foundational skills; visual motor, tactile processing, fine motor, imaginative play, sharing, and most of all PLAY! 🧸🚂🪀
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This weekend, try modeling 1-2 big deep breaths while around your little ones, see if they imitate, see if you see their shoulders drop or their body go into more of a relaxed state all from you modeling a calm body. 😮💨
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Let me know what happens (even if you modeled and you notice no difference, there’s no harm in modeling a self-care skill of deep breaths😉).
#OccupationalTherapy#PediatricOT #PedsOT#SensoryProcessing#Development #SanDiegoKids#SanDiegoFamilies #SDKids#SDFamily #Poway#Neurodiversity #Inclusion#InclusionMatters#NaturalisticEnvironment#PlayAndLearn #ScreenFreeKids#ChildLedPlay #ModelingPlay#DeepBreaths