Why Regulating the Central Nervous System Matters for Your Child’s Development
When working with children—especially those with sensory, emotional, or developmental differences—one of the most important goals we have is regulating the central nervous system (CNS). But what does that mean, and why does it matter so much?
Let’s break it down.
The Central Nervous System: Your Child’s Internal Control Center
The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, acting as the body’s communication hub. It processes everything from movement and learning to emotion and behavior. When a child’s CNS is dysregulated, you might notice:
Frequent meltdowns or shutdowns
Trouble paying attention
Difficulty with transitions
Sleep challenges
Sensory overload
In short, a dysregulated CNS makes it hard for kids to function at their best—even with the most well-structured therapy or schooling.
The Polyvagal Theory: The Science of Safety and Connection
To support CNS regulation, I use approaches grounded in Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. This theory helps us understand how the nervous system responds to stress, and how to shift a child out of "fight, flight, or freeze" and into a state of calm, connection, and learning.
The vagus nerve—a major part of this system—is the body’s calm-down switch. When we stimulate it in the right way, we help the brain and body feel safe. And when a child feels safe, they’re more open to learning, connection, and regulation.
Tools I Use to Regulate the CNS
Integrated Listening System (ILS)
The Integrated Listening System combines specially treated music with gentle movement and cognitive tasks. This multi-sensory approach stimulates the auditory, vestibular, and visual systems simultaneously, supporting:
Improved focus and sensory integration
Emotional regulation
Better postural control and motor planning
By pairing music with movement, we create a powerful bottom-up approach to regulation—essential for helping the brain shift from stress to learning mode.
Learn more: Integrated Listening & Polyvagal Theory
TruVaga Vagus Nerve Stimulation
TruVaga is a safe, non-invasive device that stimulates the vagus nerve using gentle electrical pulses. This helps signal the body to enter a parasympathetic, "rest and digest" state—reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and supporting emotional regulation.
Many of my clients describe it as soothing, and I often pair TruVaga sessions with calming activities or before transitions to support nervous system flexibility.
Rhythmic Movement Therapy (RMT)
RMT is based on gentle, rhythmic movements that mimic early developmental patterns—patterns that are often disrupted in children with sensory, emotional, or motor challenges.
By reintroducing these natural movements, we help:
Integrate retained primitive reflexes
Improve postural control and coordination
Reduce anxiety and emotional reactivity
Build a stronger foundation for learning and regulation
These movements are calming and organizing to the nervous system—acting as another powerful way to support brain-body connection.
Why It All Matters
Traditional therapy techniques work best when the brain is ready to receive them. CNS regulation sets the stage. Without it, even the best interventions can fall flat. But when we create a sense of internal safety—through sound, movement, and gentle stimulation—we unlock a child’s full potential.
This is the foundation of my approach: before we ask a child to “try harder,” we help their brain feel safe and supported.
