Early Childhood
At this age, big feelings show up as the whole body: meltdowns, refusal, running, crashing into things...
Show it, don't just say it
Before asking your child to try something new below, do it yourself first, out loud, a little exaggerated, where they can see you. This is called modeling, and it's one of the most well-researched teaching tools there is. No camera or script needed: just do the motion, narrate it ("I'm taking a big breath in..."), then invite them to try. If your child responds well to rewatching things, a short video of yourself (or them, once they've got it) doing it successfully works even better, that's video modeling, also backed by decades of research.
Regulate the nervous system
Movement & heavy work, disguised as play
Animal Walks
Crab walk, bear crawl, or hopping like a frog to provide deep sensory input.
Trampoline Bounce
A controlled way to get "rhythmic input" that calms the vestibular system.
Deep Pressure Squeeze
Firm hugs or "burrito rolls" in a blanket to help ground a dysregulated child.
Wall Push-Ups
Pushing against a solid wall to provide proprioceptive feedback.
Breathing & calm-down
Simple enough for little kids to actually do
Bunny Breathing
Three quick sniffs through the nose, one long exhale through the mouth.
Bubble Breathing
Slow, controlled exhales as if blowing the "perfect, giant bubble."
Balloon Breathing
Hands on head, "inflate" by raising arms up, and "deflate" by letting them go.
Flower and Candle Breathing
Hold up an open hand (or a pretend flower), breathe in slowly through the nose to "smell" it, then breathe out slowly through the mouth like blowing out birthday candles. One of the most classic calm-down breaths, easy for little ones to picture and repeat.
Butterfly Hug
Cross your arms over your chest like a butterfly. Pat one shoulder, then the other, slow and gentle.
Fine motor
Building little hands through play
Puffball Color Sort
Sort craft puffballs by color into cups or an egg carton, using fingers or child-safe tweezers.
Painter's Tape Peel
Stick short strips of painter's tape to a table; child peels each one off. Builds the pincer grip used for writing later.
Ring Stack & Sort
Small rings stacked by color on pegs or dowels (stacked bean bags by color work too if there are no pegs handy).
Big-Lace Threading Practice
Large beads or a big-hole practice board with a thick lace, no tying yet, just building the hand strength that makes shoelace tying possible later.
Balance & coordination
Whole-body games, no equipment required
Cone Weave Walk
Set 4–5 cones in a line, child walks or hops in a zigzag through them. Game it: "don't wake the dragons": knock a cone, freeze for 3 seconds.
Bean Bag Balance Beam
A painter's-tape line on the floor; child walks it balancing a bean bag on their head or hand.
Cross-Body Bean Bag Pass
Sit or stand, pass a bean bag from right hand to left foot and back, reaching across the body each time.
Backed by: crossing-midline practice used in pediatric OT
Hoop Hop Path
Hoops laid in a path; child jumps hoop to hoop, alternating landing on one foot and two feet.
Social skills
The earliest building blocks of turn-taking
Before the games: try mirroring instead of teaching
Instead of showing your child what to do, try copying what they're already doing. If they're stacking blocks, stack yours the same way, right next to them. If they make a sound, make it back. This isn't correcting or directing, it's showing them "I see what you're doing, and I'm doing it too." This is called Reciprocal Imitation Training, and it's backed by real research on building the imitation and engagement skills that make everything else, including the games below, come more naturally.
Rolling Ball Circle Game
Sit in a circle, roll a ball or bean bag to each person and say their name: the simplest form of turn-taking and paying attention to others.
Copy-Me Movement Game
Take turns being the "leader" doing a movement (arms up, hop, spin) while everyone else copies.
Color Cone Sharing Game
Only enough cones for everyone if they take turns and share: a gentle, built-in lesson in waiting.
At home & preschool
Small tools that make a big difference
Everyday tasks that feel hard
Bath time, brushing teeth, and getting dressed
- check_circle Visual step cards
- check_circle Let them control one small part
- check_circle Narrate what is happening next
- check_circle Use a "first / then" schedule