Ep 04: Embracing Co-Regulation for SEN Kids with Amanda Clifford

Today Sarah and her guest Amanda Clifford are exploring the foundational concept of co-regulation and its vital importance in raising confident and resilient kids.Amanda Clifford is an experienced neonatal and paediatric occupational therapist. Tune in as they unpack the deeper aspects of how co-regulation supports your child's emotional development. They also discuss sensory regulation and share how parents play a crucial role in helping their children find their "just right" place in challenging situations. Amanda is a mother to four, including twins, she also shares her insights on managing the stress of parenting and keeping the household running smoothly. Listen to the episode to learn some practical strategies that you can use every day to help empower you and your kids.Here are the Highlights:00:01 Coregulation is important for development and growth.04:46 Adults influenced by environment; children struggle with regulation.07:46 Supporting families, and recognising their own regulation states is essential.12:51 Balancing responsibilities impacts family and emotional climate.17:00 Deep pressure creates a calming proprioceptive sensation.19:55 Emotional processing, therapeutic use of self, breathing.21:16 Adapting to a child's needs through a calm approach.25:13 Mirroring and calm responses in managing emotions.28:35 Helping children recognise and manage their emotions.33:47 Respecting a child's clothing choices to avoid pressure.38:25 Support for families with development challenges.About Amanda:Amanda is an Australian Neonatal and Paediatric Occupational Therapist with over 25 years of experience in supporting infants and children with additional developmental needs. Amanda’s heart is to support and equip families with the knowledge, confidence, and tools they need to be the expert in their baby or child at whatever stage they find themselves. Her business, Mighty Minis, especially focuses on families and infants who have experienced a neonatal stay. It aims to nurture the earliest stages of infant development and the parent-infant relationship amongst a crucial developmental period and unique experience. Find out more: www.mightyminis.com.au Free downloads: Choosing a School for a Child with Additional Needshttps://www.subscribepage.com/z1k2j3_copyEasing Your Child’s Communication Frustrationhttps://www.subscribepage.com/z1k2j3_copy_copyHow do I know if my Child’s Emotional Outbursts are ‘Normal’?https://www.subscribepage.com/z1k2j3_copy_copy_copyAbout Sarah Billingham:Sarah Billingham is a specialist speech and language teacher with a focus on emotional regulation. Her service, Confident Kids, equips parents, carers and practitioners with expert knowledge and the practical tools they need through training, coaching and group programmes. Becoming a parent changed Sarah’s perspective on parenting and early childhood development and deepened her interest in understanding the regulation needs of both children and their families.  Qualifying in 2004, she initially worked in mainstream primary education and went on to lead a specialist speech and language resource base. She worked as Assistant Headteacher at a specialist SLCN school for five years and went on to lead their independent multidisciplinary assessment service until December 2021.  Sarah was a committee