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EXERCISE
Role Play . The window of tolerance . Aim . To practise using the window of tolerance . Duration . 25 minutes . Instructions : 1 . Form pairs . 2 . Explain the window of tolerance to a colleague . Draw the model and demonstrate it . Use examples from your own practice . 3 . How can you help a child that is unregulated to re-enter the window of tolerance ? Write down two effective ways that you know from your work
( See also the exercise My Motor in Additional Tools . My Motor It is a simplified version of the “ window of tolerance ” that can be used with small children .)
4.2.3 How to regulate
EXERCISE
Breathing exercises
WORK WITH CHILDREN
When we are frightened , we breathe shallowly . To relax and calm down , it is helpful to pay attention to the depth and the speed of our breathing .
• Ask the child to breath in and imagine breathing out like a leaf falling from the three .
Or
• Ask the child to place a hand on its stomach and slowly breathe in through the nose , counting to 4 .
• Ask the child to feel its stomach expand .
• Then breathe out through the mouth , once more counting to 4 .
HELP AND ACTION
Breathing techniques ( middle childhood ).
• Ask the child or children to raise their arms . Ask them to breathe in as their arms go up and breathe out as their arms come down . See how slowly they can move their arms up and down .
• Ask the child or children to take a deep breath and then blow out an imaginary birthday candle . Ask them to smell flowers . Ask them to puff the seeds from a dandelion .
Rhythm
Rhythm has a particularly calming effect on the stress response system . Rhythm can be found in music , in dance , in touch , and in the regularity of daily activities . Rhythms are predictable ; they are calming and give pleasure . They were also important stimuli before birth , in the uterus . Children who have been abused sexually have experienced a dislocation in their relationships . Doing rhythmical things with others can help them to relax and feel more confidence in relationships . Examples of rhythmical activities include throwing and catching a ball together , singing together , running together , or dancing .