Transcript: Is Your Toddler Out of Control? Try These 5 Genius Reset Routines

This is a text transcript from The First Time Mum’s Chat podcast. The episode is called Is Your Toddler Out of Control? Try These 5 Genius Reset Routines and you can click on the link to view the full episode page, listen to the episode and view the show notes.

Hi, and welcome to First Time Mum’s Chat. I’m Helen Thompson, baby massage instructor and early childhood educator, and I’m so glad you are here with me for the final episode of our Move, Play, Grow series.

Over the past few episodes we’ve explored how tummy time, crawling, cruising, and those magical first steps, all support your baby’s development in ways that go far beyond the physical. Now we’re stepping into the toddler stage where movement becomes bigger, bolder, and full of personality.

Have you ever felt unsure how to help your toddler burn energy, focus their attention or transition from chaos to calm, without the meltdowns?

If so, you are definitely not alone. Toddlers are constantly on the move, and in this episode I’m sharing how you can use simple movement routines, rhythmic games and even Brain Gym style activities to help support their growing brains and bodies.

I’ll tell you one of my favorite stories from my time in childcare where a toddler who used to spin through tidy-up time, learned to turn movement into cooperation, with just a little creativity and a lot of rhythm.

We will also explore how movement isn’t something to control, it’s something to celebrate, and how joining in instead of pushing back can transform your daily routines into moments of calm connection and joy.

So if your toddler’s bouncing off the walls or just starting to explore their independence, this episode is for you.

Let’s dive in.

We’ve come such a long way in this series, watching your baby move from those first wiggles and tummy time efforts to cruising confidently around the room and now we arrive at the toddler stage, where movement becomes a way of life. It’s not just about a milestone anymore, it’s how they play, explore, express emotions, and even self-soothe. If your little one is between one and three years old, you’ll know they rarely stay still for long, and that’s a good thing! At this stage, movement isn’t just physical energy, it’s how toddlers learn how to self-regulate and express themselves. Every wiggle, bounce, and dance is part of their development.

In this episode, I’ll be sharing some fun everyday ways to support your toddler’s growth through movement. Think a “get dressed dance” in the morning, u sing a silly song or turning cleanup into a playful routine, like putting one toy away with a bounce or singing as you go. These small play actions can make a big difference in how your toddler moves through the day.

So whether your toddler is leaping off the couch again or just beginning to find their rhythm, this episode will give you ideas, encouragement and gentle structure to help them thrive and help you enjoy the journey alongside them.

Let me share one story that’s always stuck with me.

It’s about dancing through these transitions. In one of the childcare centers I worked at, I remember a little toddler who absolutely loved music and movement. He was always so full of life, especially during playtime, and he’d get completely immersed in his own little world of blocks, toys, trucks, and bouncing energy.

The challenge? Transitioning.

Every time it came to tidy-up time, he’d struggle. He wasn’t misbehaving. He was just so deeply engaged in his game that stopping felt like a shock to the system.

We had a tidy-up song we’d use every day, something fun and upbeat, but instead of tidying, he just danced. He’d spin and twirl around a room like the song was his personal performance track. Honestly, it was adorable, but also tricky when you’re trying to get things packed away.

So I tried a different approach. Instead of asking him to stop and clean up, I joined him in the movement. I gave him a toy to carry and danced alongside him, gently encouraging him to place it in the box. Then we did it again. I turned a whole tidy up into a little movement game, and slowly he began to understand that the music wasn’t just for dancing. It was a rhythm to help him shift gears. And something lovely happened. It encouraged the other children to join in in his game too. His energy inspired the group and what was once a tricky transition became easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

And over time It clicked. He still danced, of course, but he also began to associate that song with action. He was still moving, still expressing, but in a way that supported the group too. His energy actually encouraged the whole group to dance around and take action during tidy-up time. It made the transition more fun, more collaborative, and a whole lot more enjoyable for everyone.

Turning movement into connection reminds me how moments like these can turn movement into connection. And it’s one of the reasons I wanted to share this story with you. It shows us that toddlers don’t need us to stop the movement. They need us to join them in it.

It is easy to get caught in a tug-of-war when a toddler resists change, especially during transitions like tidying up, getting dressed or heading out the door. But when we bring rhythm, play and a little creativity into those moments, we’re not only guiding them, we’re connecting with them in a language they understand: movement.

Another personal story I’d like to share with you. I remember one little girl I cared for who had such a vibrant, creative spirit, but she really struggled with transitions.

Whether it was getting dressed, winding down after play, or shifting into a calmer activity, she’d often become frustrated or overwhelmed. It wasn’t that she was misbehaving, she just didn’t have the tools yet to regulate those big emotions.

One day after a particularly energetic morning of play, I could sense that her nervous system was overloaded. She was bouncing from one toy to another, not really engaging with anything, and getting increasingly upset every time something didn’t go her way. I knew asking her to sit quietly right away just wasn’t going to work.

So instead of trying to calm things down with words, I invited her into a little movement game. I stood beside her and started gently marching on the spot, tapping my opposite knee with each hand. This is one of the cross lateral movements I often draw from Brain Gym. In that moment I just made it playful and light.

To m she joined in almost immediately. We started marching around the room together, tapping knees and making up a silly little chant to go along with it. I could see her body relax with every step. Her breathing slowed, her movements became more focused and the tension started to melt away.

Within a few minutes, we’d settled down together on the couch to look at a book. She was calm, present, and ready to connect not because I’d asked her to be, but because the rhythm and movement helped her get there on her own.

It’s moments like that that remind me just how powerful movement can be, especially when we use it not as a tool to control, but as a gentle Invitation to reconnect.

Reflecting on that moment reminds me how powerful these small rhythmic movements can be, not just for toddlers, but for us as well. It’s not about following a strict routine. It’s about finding those little patterns that help your child feel more centered, more connected, and more in control of their body.

Sometimes it’s marching and tapping opposite knees like we did in that story. Other times it might be drawing a slow figure- eight shape in the air together. That simple movement can be incredibly calming for a child who’s overstimulated or having trouble focusing.

You can also try gently tapping your toddler’s shoulder while they cross their arms over their chest, or even clapping under one leg as you play a silly game. These cross body movements might look like play, but they help support coordination, balance and that important left, right brain connection.

I still use some of these brain gym movements myself, like Hook-ups when I need to center and calm, or brain buttons when I’m feeling foggy and need to refocus. Even the owl, which involves gently holding your shoulder and turning your head can be a lovely way to release tension and reset during a busy day.

There’s also something called PACE, which stands for positive, active, clear, and Energetic. It’s really just a reminder that we can prepare our bodies and brains for learning or calming down with simple things like drinking water, crossing the midline, and pausing to breathe. It’s not just for toddlers. I find it helpful too when I need to reset and come back to the moment.

The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or a special setting. These small movements can happen in your lounge room, your kitchen, or anywhere your day takes you.

There’s another personal story I’d like to share with you and I’m gonna call it ” A Little Reset for Both of Us”. There was one afternoon, not that long ago when I’d had one of those mornings, you know, the kind. We’d been out and about, the toddler I was caring for had skipped his nap and I could feel both of us starting to fray at the edges.

He was whining, tossing toys instead of playing with them. And I’ll admit I was feeling a little frazzled too.

So instead of pushing through, I paused. I poured us both a drink of water and sat down beside him on the carpet. I gently rubbed under my collarbones and invited him to copy me. Just a quiet moment of touch and connection. Then we stood up and did a few slow marches, tapping opposite knees, and finished with simple hookups crossing our arms and legs and breathing together.

It only took a couple of minutes, but the change was amazing. His breathing slowed, his energy softened, and I found myself letting go of that edge I was holding to We’d find our rhythm again.

That little sequence, what Brain Gym calls PACE, is something I come back to often. It helps us shift gears without needing words. It’s not about doing every step perfectly, it’s just a way to reconnect, breathe, and begin again.

Here are some gentle takeaways you can both try this week. Try a reset moment using the PACE approach. The next time things feel off track, whether your toddler’s melting down or you are both frazzled, pause for a drink of water, do a few marches while tapping opposite knees, and take a moment to breathe together with your arms and legs crossed. It doesn’t have to be perfect to help you both feel more grounded.

Turn everyday routines into movement games. Add rhythm and play to your day by turning tasks into mini movement moments like doing a “get dressed dance,” marching to the dinner table or bouncing with each toy you pack away. This little ritual helps your toddler feel calm, involved, and connected to you.

Use movement to meet your toddler where they’re at. Instead of asking for stillness right away, try starting with a silly march, a lazy eight, drawn in the air or tapping brain buttons before shifting into a quiet activity. Movement gives their body a chance to process and reset, especially after big emotions or high energy play.

These are simple, playful exercises that were originally developed to support, learning and focus. Things like crossing the midline, gentle stretches or movement patterns that help connect both sides of the brain.

Think of it as a fun little brain and body reset that you can do together. It’s movement with a purpose. And here’s something I’d love to ask you as a gentle reflection as we wrap up. If there was one thing that you could change about life as a new parent, what would it be? You are welcome to message me over on Instagram.

Thank you so much for being a part of the Move Play Grow series. If this is your first time listening or you’ve made it through all five episodes, I’m truly grateful you’ve joined me. If you’ve found this helpful, I’d love if you could take a moment to follow the show, leave a rating or a review, or share the episode with another mom who might need encouragement today.

Your support really helps other first time moms find this podcast. Before we finish, I also want to let you know that in the next episode we will be exploring something many mums quietly wrestle with, feeding.

Whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or a bit of both, we’ll gently unpack some of the pressures and offer support without guilt or judgment. It may be one episode, maybe two, we’ll see where it goes, but I hope you’ll join me. If there’s one thing I’d love you to take away from this series, it’s this… movement isn’t something we have to control, it’s something we can celebrate.

Every bounce, roll, wobble and wriggle is your child’s way of growing, exploring, and connecting with the world. And when you bring music, rhythm and presence into those moments, you are doing more than supporting development. You are building trust, confidence, and joy.

Thank you again for joining me and I’ll see you in the next episode.