🗣 Say this
"There's a lot going on right now. Let's find a quiet spot together."
⏱ What to do
1
Remove them from the environment if possible, even briefly
2
Reduce input: lower noise, dim lights, slow your movements
3
Say very little, your calm presence is enough
4
Don't try to talk them through it while it's happening
5
Give them time to regulate before returning to the activity
⚠️ Avoid
❌Telling them to calm down or pull themselves together
❌Introducing more stimulation (screens, toys, noise) to distract
❌Staying in the overwhelming environment and expecting them to cope
❌Rushing the recovery, they need as long as they need
🔁 If they resist
"We're going to sit here quietly for a bit. No rush."
→Stay close, say little, breathe slowly. Your nervous system regulates theirs
💡 Pro tip
Prevention beats recovery. Watch for the build-up
Instead of
"You were fine five minutes ago! What happened?"
Try
(move to quieter space, sit down, say nothing. Just be there)