by Priscilla Restagno, Curriculum & Family Engagement Specialist
Every year around this time, we settle into a rhythm. Your alarm goes off in the morning, you brush your teeth and make some coffee, and then you wake your children up to get ready for school. You’ve established a routine. You ask, “Do you want oatmeal today or toast?” and your child happily chooses.
Now every morning for the past four days they’ve refused to eat any breakfast, and their sleep has been disrupted every night. They’re awake for hours at a time, meaning you are awake as well, and now suddenly your alarm goes off every morning, and no one is eating breakfast or having coffee. You ask yourself, “What happened? We had a system and routine that was working for all of us!”
While distressing and frustrating, this is developmentally appropriate and best described through the Touchpoints Framework developed by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton. Brazelton developed the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and Child Development Unit (CDU) at Boston Children’s Hospital. He worked with and learned from many psychologists and researchers studying, among other topics, infant attention and newborn reflexes. He developed the CDU to provide training for pediatricians in child development and to enable them to better understand and support new parents and their infants.
“Touchpoints, which are universal, are those predictable times that occur just before a surge of rapid growth in any line of development – motor, cognitive, or emotional – when, for a short time, the child’s behavior falls apart.” Development does not continue in a steady, upward course but rather through a series of peaks, valleys, and plateaus. As the brain develops and makes connections, it requires all of a child’s energy, and, therefore, that of the family members as well.
For example, your 12-month-old had a nighttime routine that you had perfected, and they were sleeping through the night. Then, over the past few days, you’ve noticed that their mood is dysregulated, and they are awake for hours at night. What could be going on? Around 12-months-old, many children see a surge in gross motor skills. They may begin walking or pulling to stand. They may also be developing more words and about to experience a surge in language.
Disorganization in one system can disorganize other systems, so as their gross motor or language development changes, changes can occur in other systems like sleep or emotional regulation. You might also see dysregulation in eating, sleeping, bathrooming, or self-soothing behaviors until this system experiencing a Touchpoint regulates.
Even though there is an explanation for these times, it can be overwhelming and confusing for adults! Self-doubt and frustration can understandably increase. Here at TCEE, we believe in a systems approach. We are here for you and your children as a part of your extended community and village, and we want to help and support you, especially during some of these more difficult times! If you begin to notice changes like this, please reach out to us. We have many resources and tools to help support your child as they build and develop new skills, and we are always here as a listening ear for you.