Why do Big Behaviours Happen?

Big behaviours happen when kids are emotionally overwhelmed or experiencing sensory overwhelm.

Understanding behaviours that challenge is key to understanding your child’s needs and wants, as well as their triggers and what keeps them calm and happy.

I strongly believe that all behaviours are a form of communication… it just sometimes takes us a while to figure out what is being communicated

But first let’s start with emotional and sensory regulation…

Emotional Regulation:

Emotional regulation is our ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences throughout the day.

When we are emotionally well regulated, we feel safe and calm and happy.
When we are not well regulated, we feel anxious, on edge, and are easily irritated.

This applies to our kids too!

Understanding and recognising emotions is key to getting emotions under control and responding to how we feel in a socially acceptable manner.

When we understand how we feel, we can use sensory tools and strategies, including sleep, diet, exercise and self care to help us stay regulated.

Sensory Regulation:

Our ability to manage and respond to sensory experiences throughout the day.

Sensory stimuli direct impacts our emotions, which in turn, affects our behaviour.

I’m sure you can recall a time when you were trying to have an adult conversation and your child has repeatedly yelled ‘mum, mum , mum, mum, mum’ to try and get your attention…

Now how hard was it to keep track of the conversation while getting bombarded with sensory input (in the form of a repetitive small child)? I’m guessing very difficult! How did you then feel? Irritated? Frustrated? Angry?

Understanding how sensory stimuli impacts our emotions and, therefore, behaviour, helps us to empathise and manage difficult behaviours from a place of understanding, rather than joining in the yelling, or disciplining seemingly ‘naughty’ behaviour.

Big Behaviours happen when we can’t self regulate.

Need help learning what you and your kid need to self regulate?

We have loads of tools and strategies for you to use at home that will help you to

understand behaviours that challenge
help you discover and then prevent sensory inputs that ‘trigger’ your child and
help you to confidently and calmly manage these behaviours when they do happen

Traffic light behaviour management system

Find this printable in Little Wooden Toybox’s Emotional Regulation and Sensory Profiles

Autism Parenting Podcast:

Join Tash as she talks about day-to-day life with Autism; the sucky bits and the wins, plus tips for enjoying life despite the challenges.

Emotional Regulation & Sensory Profiles Bundle

Printables | PDF Training | Video Training | Digital Download | $238 now $79AU

✅ stay calm & well regulated
✅ get organised
✅ gain independence
✅ make home life calmer and happier 💖

What is Emotional Regulation and Sensory Regulation training topics

Emotional and Sensory Regulation Training Bundle with printables

Strategies to keep calm and to get going

Prepositions and movements breaks for home and the classroom

Traffic light behaviour management system and the difference between meltdowns and tantrums

Training on emotions, emotional regulation and sensory regulation

Sensory tools and strategies for when you are feeling out of control

Matching emotions games and printable activities

Emotions wheel to help identify feelings and emotions

Emotions grouped into anxious, sad, happy and angry emotions

Fluffy emotion balls grouped into anxious, sad, happy and angry emotions

Recognising, understanding and labelling emotions

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Training Bites Library:

Advocating for kids who see, process and experience the world differently with ‘bite size’ pieces of information to help teach and understand a variety of behaviour, education and life skills topics.