🧸 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.

How to regress — a basic guide. ౨ৎ

In this community, it’s obvious that everyone knows what age regression is, but I’d still like to explain it anyway (after all, there’s always someone who might not know everything!).

Age regression is a psychological mechanism where an individual temporarily reverts to a younger state of mind—acting, feeling, and thinking like a child or toddler. It can be used voluntarily to relax, or involuntarily to cope with stress, trauma, or intense emotions. It isn’t always a disorder; it can simply be a defense mechanism. ૮꒰◞ ˕ ◟ ྀི꒱ა

Personally, I believe we all regress sometimes—when someone drinks warm milk before bed, when they rewatch a cartoon they loved as a kid, when nostalgia makes them want to go back in time, when they go to the park to play after a long day of work, when an adult plays make-believe with their child, or when someone went through something bad in their childhood/adolescence and wants to heal their inner child. 🧸ྀི

Many people think age regression is always about being a very small age (like a toddler or baby), but in reality, it’s the feeling—the desire to be a child again. Many call what I just described "age dreaming." Call it whatever you like; I just know that all this nostalgia feels like a warm blanket on a cold day, and I really love it. ♡

Now, enough rambling! Let’s get to the point.

How to Regress

Now that we know what age regression (and age dreaming) is, how do you actually regress?

There’s no magic spell to make it happen, mostly because it varies from person to person. So, I’ll share what helps me regress:

Know your triggers — yes, the friendly kind! Try to remember what you loved doing or watching most as a kid (or teen, or baby, whatever works). Which cartoons did you like? Your favorite games? Your favorite activities? You can even remember words you used to mispronounce and try repeating them—it creates a real sense of going back in time.

Look at the world with "little" eyes. There’s a beautiful world out there. Look out the window. Don't just see the place where you live; look at the sky, see how the clouds have funny shapes, how the grass looks prettier than yesterday, how beautiful the flowers are, and how the wind messes up your hair. Learn to look with fresh eyes, just like you did when you were little. You don't have to literally be small; you just have to think small.

You don’t need to be rich to regress. I bet many of you think you need tons of money to be a "little," and let me tell you: that’s totally wrong. Especially if you didn’t have much growing up (and maybe you still don't). Make DIY toys! Use your imagination! Age regression doesn't have to be "aesthetic" or pretty for a social media feed. It just has to be comfortable. Don't feel bad for not having certain toys, or a corner as cool as someone else's, or the means to buy "regression gear." This is your safe space—but above all, it's your mental safe space. Keep that in mind.

The "Too Long; Didn't Read" Checklist (lol) ꒰✿ᐡ⸝ɞ̴̶̷ ·̮ ɞ̴̶̷⸝ᐡ꒱

For those who don't have much patience, here’s a quick summary:

Prepare a safe space: Choose a spot where you won't be interrupted. Make it cozy with soft blankets, pillows, and gentle lighting.

Comfort items: If you can, grab things like teddy bears, comfy clothes (like pajamas), or a favorite mug.

Sensory & visual stimuli: Cartoons and movies you watched as a kid, calm music, lullabies, or children’s stories are all wonderful for littles!

Activities: Coloring, drawing, playing with play-dough, puzzles, or playing games (online or irl) are highly recommended and great positive triggers.

Allow yourself to be a child again: It sounds silly, but it helps so much. Don't feel ashamed of your regression. Don't feel ashamed of wanting to be loved and cared for. Don't be afraid to bring up regression to a psychologist or therapist. Don't feel ashamed of regressing involuntarily, talking in a softer way, or wanting to be looked after. ꒰* ॢꈍ◡ꈍ ॢ꒱.*˚‧

Age regression is completely sfw so allow yourself to experience it.

That’s it! I hope you liked it, my dears. See you next time! ᕱ⑅ᕱ

*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.

⊹☾ things you can do for a regressor w⼃ chronic pain

ʚɞ decorate their pill containers with them

ʚɞ help them pick out their favorite kids ice packs, heating pads, and water bottles

ʚɞ hold them tight when they cry

ʚɞ make bracelets with them to put on their mobility aids

ʚɞ reassure them that they're not too much to handle

ʚɞ help them figure out the best distractions for high pain days (playing games, watching movies, coloring, going on walks)

ʚɞ download their favorite games on handheld devices for when they can't get out of bed

ʚɞ keep stim toys (especially pain stims) nearby to keep them from hurting themselves

ʚɞ gather materials for crafts you can do from bed!

⠀⠀⠀⋆ no-sew blankets

⠀⠀⠀⋆ torn paper art: kiddo needs paper for ripping (preferably construction paper), paper for the background, and glue! kiddo can then tear the paper into tiny scraps (like 1-2 in.). they'll love that part. you can use an outline for the next section but it's not required. help them (or direct them to) arrange the paper scraps into a design, like an owl or their name!

For other little ones who find storms scary:

put any other ideas on how to feel safer during thunder storms in the comments!

Pinkie's agere guide PART 1 - Written by a neurodivergent disabled adult that doesn't live alone and who's still working on their basic life skills :3

I think becoming an adult is really scary - and it's scarier when you might be like me and you still don't have all the skills you should have at your age. So this is my start of a guide on "growing up" without losing your childish spark!

I'll start with general advice: No. 1 - You don't have to do things like brush your teeth or navigate your daily chores like everyone else - you can create your own system of chores, game-ify your day, award yourself when you reach goals, and use whatever helps you complete them! I personally just... can't bring myself to brush my teeth without opening up my pokemon smile app, catching a pokemon, and then ticking that mission off on Finch! That's what I found to be helpful and engaging to me, and whatever makes you do what you need to do is GREAT. Doesn't matter how you complete things. (and i also cant handle mint so i use kids' toothpaste - that's OK) No. 2 - it's OKAY to allow yourself to regress and be childish. If you want to color in a coloring book that isn't an adult coloring book, that's okay! I think that the adult ones have wayyy to many lines, and they just end up confusing my brain instead of being a relaxing activity. The kid coloring books, however, are simple and allow me to work and experiment on how I color and shade artworks! It gives you the ability to try out new techniques if you wish, so here's a smart excuse if you want to get one! another reason i give is just that i like to turn my brain of and focus on something simple sometimes. Life gets hard, so it's understandable. No. 3 - A great way to get gear like books and plushies, or toys, is probably thrift or charity shops - it's helpful for our planet, and gives used goods a chance at a new loving home! I promise you that you likely won't get questioned. And if someone does end up asking? "Oh, I'm helping my aunt and her child sometimes, I thought it'd be nice to stop here and get them something." or, "I remember my little sibling really wanting this [book/toy/etc], I feel like I just had to get it for them." No. 4 - Growing up and becoming an adult doesn't mean being boring or "normal" and throwing all your fun hobbies out. There are a lot of grown people out here today who love video games, plushies, stuff like that. That doesn't mean they're weird, and it doesn't mean YOU're weird. It's also important to surround ourselves with the right people - because they'd understand. If you're not there yet, you'll get there eventually. I'm out here hanging out with people my age (a 19-26 age range), and they all have their thing. I showed my best friend a my little pony coloring book and she just went... "I'd buy that, go for it". TLDR: You're able to find community, even without outright saying "I'm an age regressor". Growing up doesn't mean not needing comfort. No. 5 - You can create a good balance between being childish and being responsible - Being one thing doesn't erase the other. Things can and will likely be hard - but it's important to remember to always get back up and try again, because no matter what happens, giving up entirely is NOT the answer.

How does a kid age regress if they ARE a kid-?