Need help creating a safe place for my little

Hi all,

That actually sounds like a great idea! We're really fortunate as we have a 3 year old granddaughter and have an extra room in the house that we've been setting up for her. We've been spending a lot of time with her and it's been good for us because we're getting reacquainted with a real toddlers likes, dislikes and behaviors. It could easily be a space for my little that she can share with the granddaughter. There's also a really good chance that there are more Littles that haven't shown themselves yet and maybe this would help them come forward too. It never occurred to me to have a literal physical space. I know we will have so much more to experience in our journey and everyone's help is truly invaluable. Thank you!

We've coaxed out our own littles by surrounding ourselves with the things I remember we used to like at that age. For the youngest, we picked up stuffed animals and pressed them to our face, the way you might to get an upset child's attention. You might try saying aloud or internally sent the message that everything's okay, we're safe, we're in our home and these are for you. We've done the same for my adopted son's littles.

You may not know what the specific fears or triggers are for an individual little. Some may have survival tactics that avoided play. For our Little John, having a wish fulfilled or being given something he had shown an interest in was triggering and scary. So we invited him to be nearby as some of the others played.

Trying different approaches to reach a little -- or any alter for that matter -- may be needed.