Exercise and Self-Regulation

Self-regulation is the ability to manage and respond to our emotional experiences. It is the ability to calm down when upset or cheer up when feeling down. When a child experiences a lack of self regulation, they are unable to diffuse their negative emotions. These emotions can take control leading to over-the-top reactions, outbursts or meltdowns. A lack of self-regulation skills cam also make it difficult for a child to cope with stressful life experiences.

One way to improve self regulation is through regular, daily exercise. For ideas, check out the following (click image to view larger):

Other resources (thank you, Ross Greene!):

• Cosmic Kids Yoga: Geared more for younger children (PreK-4).
• Sworkit: A customizable workout program.
• FitnessBlender: Free workouts and yoga for older children and adults.

(Source: He's Extraordinary: Tools for Raising an Extraordinary Person)