1. DRUM PLAY 

Drumming is a powerful means of matching children's energy levels, both for calming or arousing. Using a slow steady beat on a drum is very calming and regulating for children of all ages and stages. 

You can play a steady drum beat as you chant or sing instructions like: 

Stamp your feet, Stamp your feet, Stamp your feet and stop! Pause 2 3 4 repeat. 

Simple instructions like this accompanied on the drum help children to listen, move, play, and stop in time. 

Match children's emotional and energy levels:

- If they are highly aroused, use fast loud drumming patterns, gradually slow the beat, and bring it right down to soft gentle drum play. 

- If they are lacking energy, start to drum slowly, gradually build up to faster drumming using beat or rhythms, and going from loud, then back to soft/calm again. 

Watch the children to make sure you are helping to bring them to a state of calm and regulation. 

If playing with an individual child, let them be the leader and copy their short rhythmic pattern on the drum. The mirroring of their drum patterns is very validating and helps build self-esteem, listening, turn taking and creativity. 

View Drums

2. SCARVES 

Scarves are wonderful for calming and regulating.

Draw patterns in the air in time to slow, calming music. Use music like "The Four Seasons" by composer Vivaldi. Explore fast/slow, high/low, and copy the patterns of the music. 

Get children to move their scarves in time to the music: 

- When listening to slow movement, children can lie on the floor. 

- When listening to faster movements, children can move and dance around with the scarves. 

Always finish with a slow movement. 

View Scarves

3. ORGANZA (large scarves)

Use pastel colours for calming and brightly coloured organza for arousing. 

A very calming activity: 

1. Have two teachers or family members hold the organza and waft it over each child as they lie on the floor. 

2. Sing or choose slow predictable songs. Sing "up, up, up, up, up" using the first five notes of the major scale, pause and sing down, down, down, down, down. Repeat. 

3. Gradually move the organza up or down according to the sung instructions. 

The song "Up and Down and Around and Around" is on Julie Wylie's CD "Magical Musical Play" available from Every Educaid, on Spotify or Itunes. 

View Scarves & CDs

4. CHIME BARS/RESONATOR BELL SETS

Chime bars can be played for the song "Up and Down and Around and Around" by playing the notes C D E F G then back to the home note G F E D C. 

View Xylophones and Bell Sets

5. STORIES 

Read stories like Brown Bear which is calming and predictable with a wonderful use of repetition and clear illustrations. Use the signs for each animal. NZ Sign Language helps children to learn the sequences of actions. The story can be accompanied by a soft steady beat on a drum.

Other tips: 

Lying on their tummy on the floor is calming. 

Deep pressure hugs and slow firm rubbing down the child's back or arms is very calming. Tickling arouses, deep pressure touch calms. 

Children can give themselves a cuddle and with arms crossed rub down their arms from shoulders to their elbows. Chant or sing “Give yourself a cuddle”. Use a calm voice and manner and at the end you can bring the children right down from a louder faster voice to a whisper. 

For more of Julie Wylie’s tips, visit her website https://www.juliewyliemusic.com/ideas-tips