Yes, there's a lot more to learn, consider, and do when parenting a neurodivergent child. But that doesn't mean you have to find and carve out more time in your day specific to teaching skills or implementing what you've learned about parenting. So much of that can be done in everyday, real-life moments. Co-regulation is a good example.
Step 2 is to choose just one interaction with your kid to layer co-regulation onto. Don't worry, this can be as simple as sitting in the same room when your kid is doing their homework — no talking, no helping, just presence.
After that, as you feel ready, you can layer more and more co-regulation into your real, everyday life and witness the changes in how those interactions or tasks feel and transpire. This is adding cues of safety for your kid's nervous system that will eventually even lead to fewer meltdowns and shutdowns (as long as nervous system threats don't increase at the same time).
That's more ease for all, and who doesn't want that?
Reply to this email and let me know how you're layering in co-regulation.
With so much heart,
375: Co-Regulation Ideas for Real Life
with Penny Williams
A grilled cheese sandwich struggle turned into one of my favorite coaching moments this month. This week I'm breaking down co-regulation, not the crisis-mode version, but the everyday kind you can build into cooking, walking, doing the dishes, and more. Three simple entry points, real examples for every age, and a whole new way to show up for your kid and their nervous system without hovering.
Join me at the ADHD & Executive Function Summithosted by Kristina Manning! This free, online event brings together 30+ leading experts in ADHD, parenting, and child development to provide expert strategies for:
Creating a home environment that sets your child up for success
Partnering with schools to secure ADHD accommodations that truly help
Managing screen time while encouraging movement and play
Picky Eating & Nutrition Support for ADHD
Understanding and supporting your child’s sensory needs
…plus so much more, all from the comfort of your home.
Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Clarity, by clicking here.
This newsletter and podcast are free and reader-supported. If something here has helped you understand your child a little better or made a hard moment feel more manageable, you can help keep this work going by supporting it here.
I help parents and teachers of neurodivergent kids trade escalation for regulation using my SIGNAL Parenting™ framework. Award-winning author of Boy Without Instructions and host of the Beautifully Complex Podcast. My core belief: behavior isn't the problem, it's the signal.