How to support your child’s body before seeking a diagnosis
If your child is melting down more than usual…
Struggling to focus, sleep, or sit still…
Or just seems “off” in ways you can’t explain—
You might find yourself asking:
“Is this something deeper? Should I call a specialist? Do they need a diagnosis?”
But what if before all that there was a simpler question to ask:
“Is their body being supported?”
That’s where the OWNER Code comes in.
What Is the OWNER Code?
OWNER is a five-part system I developed to help parents check in on the biological foundations of their child’s regulation:
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O — Oxygen
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W — Water
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N — Nutrition
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E — Enough Sleep
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R — Respect for the Body
These are the non-negotiables for a child’s nervous system to function well.
Before we talk diagnoses, therapies, or behavior plans
Let’s make sure their body isn’t just under-resourced.
Why It Matters
We often rush to label what’s actually a symptom of:
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A skipped nap
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Poor hydration
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A blood sugar crash
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Chronic mouth breathing
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Too little movement or too much screen time
In other words: we pathologize what’s preventable.
The OWNER Code gives us a lens to slow down and check the basics first because you can’t expect regulation from a body that isn’t being met with what it needs.
Let’s Break It Down
Oxygen
Is your child breathing through their nose, or their mouth?
Mouth breathing can lead to:
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Poor sleep
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Anxiety
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Brain fog
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Behavioral shifts
Encourage nasal breathing with:
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Straw games
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Humming
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Blowing bubbles
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Awareness cues like “lips together, tongue up”
Water
Even slight dehydration can look like:
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Emotional meltdowns
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Low energy
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Trouble focusing
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Headaches
Hydration is a game-changer especially for young nervous systems.
Offer water frequently especially after meals, play, and screen time.
Nutrition
Kids don’t just need calories they need fuel.
Look for:
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Protein and healthy fats
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Less sugar and refined carbs
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Real textures (not just pouches or snacks)
Blood sugar swings are often mistaken for mood disorders.
Enough Sleep
Is your child:
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Waking often?
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Snoring or grinding?
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Hard to wake up?
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Crashing mid-morning?
These are red flags.
Sleep isn’t just rest it’s nervous system regulation and repair.
Respect for the Body
Kids need movement that’s:
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Grounding
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Regulating
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Joyful
Things like:
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Crawling
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Climbing
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Swinging
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Stomping
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Stretching
Their body holds the key to their emotional health.
You Can Start Today
You don’t need permission or a professional to begin.
Just start checking in:
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Are they hydrated?
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Have they moved today?
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Did they eat real food?
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Are they breathing clearly?
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Are they rested?
These are the foundations of calm, focus, and connection.
When We Support the Body, the Behavior Shifts
OWNER doesn’t fix everything.
But it often clears the fog.
And in that clarity, you get to see your child as they are—not just how they’re coping.
That’s where regulation begins.
That’s where SHIFT begins.
Ready to explore the next steps with support and community?
SHIFT, where we connect behavior to biology and build families that regulate together.
Join the SHIFT Community here ➝ https://shiftcircle.shereewertz.com/communities/groups/shiftcircle/home?invite=68616eb5d774a6c7443f0a15
Join the SHIFT Method here ➝ https://shereewertz.com/academy
