my signature scent !

Journaling can be fun with lots of creative activities, but sometimes regression isn't as happy or bubbly as most journal prompts seem. Big Feelings can be especially hard and scary to work through in the moment when you're small and don't have the words to talk about them. Having the comfort of a caregiver and letting those feelings out in a safe place is good start, but not everyone has or wants a caregiver and working through the feelings is a big part that I don't see many people talk about in the agere space.

It helps to have other ways to show and get out your feelings when they get overwhelming, but some regressors need a bit more of a structured, guided way to make sense of the messy feelings in their head. My little Kokki is one of them, so I decided to put together some more guided questions for journaling through Big Feelings in a way that hopefully will feel safer and still maintain that small, more simple headspace to make it feel less scary to do. Something that a regressor could do on their own or with the extra guidance of a caregiver.

I may add more as new ideas come to me, and other caregivers are free to suggest additions as well. I hope they help!

Man I wish I had money and capitalism wasn’t so evil

If your Caregiver F/O is also your romantic F/O, they don't mind the regressed side of you. It warms their heart that you love and trust them so much to see such a vulnerable side of you. The day you picked them to be your caregiver is their favorite day (right after meeting you, ofc!)

There's nothing you can do to make your F/O (romantic or caregiver) think of you any less.

🐻Your F/O(s) knows you can do things by yourself, and they let you! However, they're always right there keeping an eye on you in case anything goes wrong or if you need them.

🧁Whether you act more childish and younger despite your regressed age or if you act just your age, they're more than willing to join you in your activities if you want them to. It doesn't matter if it's playing with toys, coloring, playing games, etc., they're happy to join!

🐻If you end up having an attitude or getting snappy, F/O(s) understands it's nothing personal—it's just how you are. They're patient with you, and they let you know that's how you came off.

🧁F/O(s) makes sure you have ways of getting any aggression out if you need it. Something that you can break, violent video games, etc. They wanna make sure you get it out in a healthy manner, after all!

🐻They can't help but tease you when you're like this. You get so embarrassed and it's so adorable to F/O(s)! Your face just gets so red and puffy with both embarrassment and annoyance, and they love it!

🧁If you don't feel like doing much, then your F/O(s) completely understands. They'll simply be with you until you stop regressing—maybe stay even afterwards, if you want them to. Whatever you're happier and comfortable with after the fact!

[Imagines here are about fictional characters only, never about real people.]

🧡🍎💛🍏🧡🍎💛🍏🧡🍎💛🍏 🧡🍎💛🍏

So, I play the claw machine. A lot. I put in my full 8 plays with Sylus and Caleb every week. But this line is new?! I’ve noticed a lot of new voice lines were added at the most recent update, and so I’ve gotten into the habit of screen recording when talking to them. I wanna catch the new ones, after all!

Long story short: this line right here? That regression hit faster than my thumb opening the app on launch day of a new update.

CG!Caleb is practically canon already, and I swear they just keep writing him more and more CG coded with every update. HE’S BABY TALKING US AGHNNDNDNG 🥹🥹🥹

*turns around in chair like Captain America* so ……. you wanna be tiny.

Awesome! :D

Voluntary regression, when done intentionally, can be immensely fun and healing. Let’s get you set up for success.

Step 1: Set Your Goals

Your goal should never be “to regress” - it may not happen. You may spend all of your time just age dreaming (acting small with your big brain still in). You need to be okay with that.

The reason you’re regressing isn’t the same as your goal. “Because I’m traumatized,” “for fun,” and “for chronic pain” are all valid reasons, but they don’t provide you with the framework for healing that we’re looking for.

Here are some specific, achievable goals:

“I want to relax and have uninterrupted fun after a long day.”

“I want to reparent my inner child through affirmation work, gentle parenting, and rules for self-care.”

“I want to work through trauma I’ve experienced through play so I can experiment with new outcomes for tough situations.”

“I want to complete easy tasks/assignments to give myself a sense of pride and accomplishment.”

“I want to allow myself to trust and be cared for in a way that I am usually resistant to.”

“I want to allow Jesus to speak to me when I feel most vulnerable and receptive to His kindness.”

“I want to improve my self/care habits by making them fun and digestible.”

“I want to revisit childhood/deep-rooted fears so I can work through them with effective coping mechanisms, like journaling.”

Step 2: Selecting Your Tools

Here, you might have seen lists of things that people like to use when they’re little, but rarely do they explain why they like to use them. These lists also may not resonate with older or alternative regressors.

So instead, I will give you categories of things that I believe are relevant to regression, and you fill decide what satisfies it best for you.

Something to wear: do you have clothing that is easy and comfortable to move around in, makes you feel good to wear, and/or gives you sensory input you crave?

Something to watch: do you know of a show, movie, or YouTube channel that holds good memories for you? Is there one out there that piques your interest? It doesn’t have to be “kid-friendly,” but its effect should be comfort and peace, not intellectual or emotional strain. We are not looking for challenge - that is for developing your grownup brain. Many regressors prefer kids media for this reason.

Something to do (with your hands): Stimulating senses other than sight is vital for grounding, especially in today’s online world … and, considering the nature of the work we are doing, you may need it. Painting, sensory sand, going to the beach, swimming, making music, woodworking, crocheting, polymer clay, diamond painting, puzzles, coloring books, and more can all bring out your inner child. Again, we are looking for joy, not challenge; perhaps your local dollar store has a craft kit!

Something to read: are you a scientist who loves learning about animals? A horror fan who loves spooky tales? Do you remember a series from your childhood that brought you joy? Reading is a great way to escape into a simpler world and evade screens, especially if it’s crafted without profanity or triggering subjects. Children’s books may also minister to you in ways that adults failed, such as teaching emotional regulation, socialization, and how to fight common fears.

Something to hold: plushies have been proven to be beneficial for mental health, but a companion doesn’t have to be stuffed! Action figures, dolls, and other friends can be thrifted, bought, or dug up from closets. They provide sounding boards for scary thoughts that get less scary when said aloud, companionship during play, travel, or sleep, and serve as willing recipients of your creative outputs (bracelets, clothing, drawings, etc). And, when you need a hug, your favorite toy can be right there with you in the absence of a human friend.

Something to nibble: food is fuel for the body, but it is also love. Choose foods that are nutritious and fun, just like you’d give a child. My personal faves are Slim Jim’s, pepperoni, berries, nuts, dairy, and veggies with dip. Treats are great too, but spend your tummy bank on nutritionally valuable food first! Regressors also find fun in experimenting with different vessels for food and drinks, like crazy straws, bottles, ZooPals plates, or character dining sets.

Something to play with: ‘play’ has many definitions and types. Below is a short list of types of play. No matter if you like toys or not, gather objects or activities that encourage play.

Symbolic play - using one object to represent another (i.e. a flower becomes a wand - try blocks or play scarves)

Locomotor play - moving play (try roller skates, online exercises/dance classes, or small exercise trampolines)

Creative play - invoking a desired or experimental outcome (try Legos and art supplies)

Deep play and rough-and-tumble play - play that involves bodily risk and movement (try hiking, rock climbing, or swimming)

Dramatic play - orchestrating play without personal involvement (“setting up” elaborate scenes with toys was a big part of my childhood play! Try small toys and accessories like Calico Critters, stuffed animals, or dolls)

Exploratory play - play to gain information (try boxed or homemade science experiments, or simply asking, “I wonder what happens if I …?”)

Fantasy and imaginative play - playing in a way that is unlikely to occur in real life and/or the rules have changed (try dressing up to be a superhero, royalty, animal, etc)

Mastery play - bringing a task to completion (build a campfire, dig holes in sand to fill with water, complete a video game level, etc)

Object play - manipulating objects to learn more about them (common in developing babies and autistic stimming; try fidget toys)

Socio-dramatic play - taking on a role that involves social interaction (I.e. playing house or doctor)

Somewhere to go: novelty can be hugely effective in delighting your inner child. Try hanging out in the backyard, going to a park/museum/aquarium, taking yourself on a “little” shopping spree with a set budget, going to a theme park/state fair, or checking out kids media from your local library. Since you are exiting your safe space, you must be mindful of those around you. This is why I usually recommend this to those who know they will only be age dreaming, unless they are completely alone. For your safety, please do not involve anyone who has not consented in your regression.

Something to see: if you can, decorate your safe space or a portion of your safe space in a way that makes your inner child happy. Try changing your phone wallpaper, collecting figures, displaying stuffies on your bed, putting up wall stickers or drawings you’ve made, or changing your bed sheets.

A note on pacifiers: pacis made for adults are a great way to abate thumb-sucking and unhealthy oral stims. They will shift your teeth only if you use them excessively; try limiting use to an hour at a time, and always wear your retainer if you have one. If you feel pain, stop. Disassemble and clean immediately after use.

A note on diapers: I personally do not use diapers because I don’t want or need them, but should you choose differently, there are lots of creators who have more information on them. Most importantly, they are not shameful.

Step 3: Meeting Your Inner Child

How do you know when you’ve regressed?

When play takes over.

When you find yourself fully engaged in what’s in front of you, finding captivation in the simplest things, you are regressed. It isn’t some magical transformation - you’re just revising a part of you that has always been there, latent. It is an unlocking of childhood whimsy … a state of being easily awed.

Thoughts may simplify; adult reasoning for comfort objects may reduce to a petulant mine. Anxious spirals may be replaced by a simple mama, I’m scared. Thoughtful analyses of character arcs and subplots may sound more like yay, ponies!

If you have an internal monologue, it may disappear, replaced with more primal emotions like “angry” or “scared” or “happy” or “calm.” There have been many times that my husband has asked little me what’s wrong, but instead of words, only sobs make it out of my mouth. Then, when he holds me, a warmth I can’t name fills my chest and makes me sleepy.

What is your inner child like? Are they more or less …

Sensitive?

Chatty?

Energetic?

Creative?

Impulsive?

Experimental?

Outspoken?

Stubborn?

Relaxed?

Giggly?

Curious?

Focused?

Defiant?

Angry?

Expressive?

Your inner child, like all children, is subject to fits and flights of fancy. This is normal! Love them as you would love a normal child.

Step Four: Caring For The Bunchkin

Since our goal is not to regress, we have the freedom to take a third-person point of view while we are in our safe space, check in on ourselves, and see how we are doing.

If your goal is to heal, take things slow. Choose one activity at a time that allows you to explore your deeper thoughts, and allow ample room for fun and relaxation.

Instead of focusing on your trauma and hurt, start by asking yourself - “what are my deepest desires? What am I lacking? What is important to me? What can I give myself that I did not receive?”

Kids’ “About Me” worksheets are a great place to start, since there are no wrong answers. As you get more comfortable being small, try making or completing worksheets that ask the weightier questions.

Caring for with your inner child can be as simple as imagining them like another person. For example:

If you are shameful of your desire to connect with an old fandom, ask yourself why that might be. Did someone tell you that it was shameful? Did you have a bad experience in that fandom? Were you at a turbulent point of your life? What might you say to a child experiencing these emotions now?

If you are reluctant to make noise or take up space, ask yourself why. Did someone tell you that you were ‘too much?’ Were you afraid to be judged? Did someone punish you for getting in their way? What would you say to a child afraid to take up space in your presence?

If you are distressed at the idea of stimming openly while small, ask yourself why. Did someone - or life experience - teach you to mask? Are you afraid of being judged as a “faker?” Are you afraid of looking or feeling incapable in some way? What would you say to a child who is afraid to stim?

If you are upset with yourself for reacting to a trigger, ask yourself why. Do you feel like you should be more healed, or more in control of yourself? Are you afraid of slipping back towards a state you used to be in? Are you afraid of re-experiencing trauma?

What would you say and do for a child who struggles with a trigger?

Showing your little self compassion and modeling joy from an adult headspace is vital. Don’t say anything to your inner child that you wouldn’t say to an actual child.

You may not be quite ready to believe the healing truths you have learned when you are big, but putting them into practice when you are small is a great way to soothe yourself from the inside out.

(I filled up my star chart by making my bed each day! Good job, me! I worked so hard, and now I get a treat!)

(I did a drawing all by myself! I can put it on my fridge now. Wow, I’m so glad I made something today.)

(I went outside, and there are so many cool things to see! What an awesome world I live in.)

Healing can be tough, but it’s so fantastic. It all starts with being kind to yourself. You can do it!

Step 5 - Putting Out Fires

Oh dear, something went wrong, and now a tantrum is afoot. Or a meltdown. Or a flashback. What do we do?

Hold up your fingers like birthday candles and blow them out to encourage deep breathing.

Play a song that makes you feel good, and dance if you can. Physical movement is your best antidote.

Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste.

Repeat your affirmations aloud. There is power in hearing something that isn’t your own mental hurricane. “I am loved, I am safe, I am going to be okay.”

Assign the trigger to a stuffie (don’t worry, they are willing participants!). Say, “hey, wait a minute, why should you be in charge? These are MY thoughts! Take that! And that! And that!” Toss your stuffie around and get those crazy thoughts away from both of you!

Assign the trigger to a stuffie, and pretend they are you. What would you say to calm them down and tell them you are here for them?

Get a change of scenery. Go outside, go somewhere else, take a shower or bubble bath.

Scribble your feelings on paper. No, really, go ham. Break some crayons. Then crumple them, tear them, and throw them away.

Most importantly - don’t be mad at yourself.

The debrief - what can we do for next time?

Handle triggers with care, but don’t be afraid of the feelings that accompany them. There is an unmet need somewhere in your soul - what is it, and how can you meet it?

Journaling and affirmations - record what happened and why you think it happened, and then write kind things to and about yourself.

“Do it scared” - push past the lies you have been told about yourself and enjoy things anyway.

I am a Christian, and I live by the phrase: “if it isn’t your reality, make it your prayer.” Even if you don’t believe now that you are safe, loved, and capable, saying these things to yourself constantly will help them be realized.

Obviously, avoiding negative language about yourself in your adult life is the other half of the pizza. Your inner child is doing work for adult you, too! Don’t undermine it!

The Wrap Up

Well, Kiddo, I’m so glad you’re taking this step in your healing journey. A few things to remember before you go:

You may grow out of regression! That’s good! It’s a sign that your inner child is happy and content.

You may never grow out of regression. That’s okay! Your inner child can get love all your life!

Your regression is your business. You don’t have to tell anyone about it if you don’t want to. Choose who you tell very carefully.

Ignore the haters. You’re doing great.

struggling to regress? ♡༅

here are some methods that might help!

♡ sensory matching method ──୨ৎ── focus on connecting three senses that trigger regression! soooo if a childhood cartoon made you feel little, pair it with a scent that gives the same feeling and a texture that also has that comforting feeling, such as a soft blankie!༅

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♡ familiar senses method ──୨ৎ── focus on nostalgia and familiar comfort items! get a childhood snack, set up soft and gentle lighting, and surround yourself with things that bring warmth and nostalgia! regressing often comes easier for many in an environment that feels familiar & safe!༅

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♡ baby steps method ──୨ৎ── focus on starting slow and building up little activities! so instead of trying to force it or jump right into it, slightly like the first two methods, start slown! start with a small, soothing action like hugging a stuffie or putting on cozy socks! then maybe surround yourself with familiar regression cues like a childhood show then dim the lights & grab a comfy blankie! once you feel more at ease maybe do smth like coloring or playing with toys!! so this way you slowly feel more relaxed instead of pressured to regress quickly!༅

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♡ storytime method ──୨ৎ── read a short children’s book or a calming fairytale out loud or listen to an audiobook with a gentle, nurturing voice to help shift your mindset!! there are also asmr videos of people reading children books!༅

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♡ ritual method ──୨ৎ── repeat a small comforting action every time you want to regress!! maybe it’s putting on a specific cozy outfit, turning on a soft dim or colored light, having a certain drink, or hugging your favorite stuffed animal! associating an action with regression can help over time!༅

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♡ note method ──୨ৎ── if you dont have a caregiver to help you regress then when you are bigger make a note talking and babying little you, as if big you is a cg to yourself! then when you are struggling to regress, read it! it might help you feel a lil bit smaller having someone, even if it is big you, baby you!༅

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♡ regression playlist method ──୨ৎ── make a special playlist with songs or lullabies! i like to play disney songs!༅

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♡ soundscapes method ──୨ৎ── if music doesn't work for you instead of music, try listening to sound effects that mimic childhood nostalgia! so things like playground noises, soft rain, wind chimes, or toy store sounds, whatever works for you that you can find!!༅

Hi! Hope this suffices! I loved Charlie and Lola as a kid!

🧸 1. Create a Safe Space

Find a private, quiet, and comfortable place.

Use soft lighting, cozy blankets, and items that feel safe.

If you have a caregiver (CG), let them know you're regressing. (If possible! some littles may be nonverbal <3)

🎨 2. Gather Comfort Items (Optional but Helpful)

Stuffies/plushies

Blankets or pacifiers

Sippy cups or bottles

Snacks (like applesauce, juice boxes, goldfish crackers)

Toys, coloring books, or sensory items

🎧 3. Choose Comforting Activities

Watch cartoons or kids’ movies

Color or play with toys

Listen to lullabies or soft music

Nap or cuddle with a stuffed animal

Use kids' apps or games

Talk in a childlike voice if it helps

🫧 4. Let Go of Adult Worries

Try to mentally "put away" responsibilities

Use affirmations like: "I am safe." "I don’t have to worry right now." "It’s okay to be small."

🛑 5. Set Limits

Set a timer if you have things to do later

Avoid regressing in unsafe or inappropriate environments

Practice self-care after regressing — drink water, reflect gently, and ease back into your usual mindset

Optional: Journaling or Memory Triggers

Some find it helpful to keep a regression journal or make a playlist of comforting songs, shows, or smells that help trigger the regressed mindset.

⚠️ Important Notes

Please keep an eye on yourself; keep safe when regressing.

Remind yourself: “It’s okay to need comfort.” There’s no shame in wanting to feel little or cared for.

You don’t have to “act like a child” — regression is about your internal experience, not outward behavior.