09/30/2026
Sometimes a child isnât âbeing difficultâ.
They may be above their window of capacity: overwhelmed, angry, noisy, tearful, restless, unable to take in another word.
Or they may be below it: quiet, numb, shut down, exhausted, staring into space, saying âI donât knowâ to everything.
Both can look like poor behaviour from the outside. But often, itâs a nervous system that has had too much.
In those moments, explanations, consequences and âcalm downâ can feel impossible to hear. Start smaller. Lower your voice. Reduce demands. Offer a drink, a snack, a familiar routine, a bit of movement, quiet company or space nearby.
The goal isnât to make a child behave perfectly. Itâs to help them feel safe enough to come back to themselves.
And if youâre a parent running on empty, this applies to you too. Nobody can cope well when their capacity is gone.
FREE WINDOW OF CAPACITY POSTER FOR EMOTIONAL REGULATION
LIKE the photo and comment "WINDOW" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.