TBRI Tip: Get Outside and Regulate!

For children from hard places, regulation is the foundation of connection, learning, and behavior. One of the most powerful tools you can use to support regulation is through sensory engagement - intentional activities that help organize a child's nervous system. Through Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), we know that sensory experiences aren't just "fun extras" - they're essential for helping children feel safe, connected, and in control of their bodies.

Spring and summer are perfect times to take regulation outdoors. Nature offers a built-in sensory playground - full of movement, texture, sound, and rhythm. By offering a mix of alerting, calming, and organizing sensory activities, you can help your child stay balanced and regulated throughout the day.

Here's a quick guide to outdoor sensory activities, TBRI-style:

Alerting Activities - Great for sleepy or sluggish moods. These increase energy and awaken the senses:

• Jumping on a trampoline
• Running races in the yard
• Playing with water balloons or a spray hose
• Rolling down grassy hills
• Climbing playground structures

Calming Activities - Use these to settle and soothe a dysregulated child:

• Swinging in a hammock or tire swing
• Lying on a blanket and watching clouds
• Slow walks in nature or barefoot walking on grass
• Gentle water play like pouring or scooping
• Blowing bubbles or dandelions

Organizing Activities - These combine movement and rhythm to help a child regain control:

• Bouncing a ball back and forth in a pattern
• Bike or scooter rides on a path
• Jump rope or hopscotch
• Playing catch or throwing bean bags at a target
• Raking leaves or digging in a garden

When you offer these activities proactively - before dysregulation sets in - you set your child up for success. Follow their lead, respect their sensory preferences, and keep it playful. You might just find that a 15-minute outdoor adventure can shift the tone of the whole day.

TBRI reminds us: The body must be regulated before the brain can be reasoned with. So go ahead - get outside, get moving, and watch your child thrive.

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