15/05/2025
🔥This toolkit is for you if you feel like you’re constantly ‘Freaking Out’ and dealing with emotional emergencies
🔥 Try visualising:
🧭 A compass ~ Check the status of your own feelings first ~ do you need to self-regulate ?
🧯 A fire extinguisher ~ Aim to diffuse the situation and not add fuel to their fire ! Aim for connection over correction.
🧑🏼🚒 A firefighters badge ~ role model self-regulation skills eg;“ I’m feeling overwhelmed right now ~ I just need to take some deep breaths”
🚨 An alarm ~ Is it an emergency ? As Dr Julie says ; “ In the same way a smoke alarm can go off in a fire ~ it can also go off if someone’s just making some toast” … Remember your child’s brain is probably on red alert/survival mode right now & all logic and reasoning are unattainable… you need to be their safe, secure place until their flames subside.
📢 The megaphone ~ Let both of you get the big feelings out. ‘Name it to Tame it’ ~ research shows that simply by SAYING how we feel can reduce stress levels by 50% !
📱 Phone ~ listen ! When overwhelmed we all need to feel seen, safe and heard. Good check-ins could sound like ~ “ Are you OK, I understand, you’re safe, what’s the hardest bit, I’m here if you need me”
🚒A spade ~ Don’t aim to bury or stop the feelings ! Let them out !
🔦 A torch ~ explore new pathways/strategies. If the usual route or strategy ends in disaster ~ it’s time to look for a new way !
🔨 A hammer ~ work together to figure things out
🔥 Hope this helps !
⚠️ Safety warning ~ Firefighting isn’t easy ~ it takes training, rehearsing and a certain amount of courage and confidence~ so be kind to yourself
📸 Why not screenshot the emergency toolkit and display somewhere handy for times of need ? (Will pop in stories later)
