I like this article by Kellie Bartlett about how to deal with children’s challenging behaviour. The growth and development of a child’s brain means that they are not able to rationalise and stay calm when they become overwhelmed by difficult feelings.
The article goes on to explain how parents can use touch in different ways to help their children stay calm, calm down and to develop a close physical bond with them.
This also speaks to me of the Porges vagal brake theory, where stress and the stress response is down-regulated by stimulating the vagus nerve to kickstart its parasympathetic effect – and touch is one thing that can help with this process.
This is also one of the system-wide effects that craniosacral therapy can have through therapeutic touch.
Read more about the vagus nerve.
