Why Are Self-Regulation Programs Important for Children in Schools?

• Self-regulate’ or controlling or handling information that comes in through one or more of their senses is one of the most critical skills you learn when you are growing up. For some children and adults, this can be a hard lesson.

The source of the problem is the body’s nervous system. The nervous system has trouble regulating itself and when kids are in situations that cause sensory overload, they can’t self-regulate.

According to the Federal research reports, "self-regulation is a skill that should be focused on and developed in school." This report also states that the ability to control impulses and manage thoughts can contribute to better problem-solving skills and greater overall well-being.

Self-Regulation Skills for Children

Self-regulation skills are essential for children to cope with stress, develop stronger relationships, negotiate effectively with other children, and have a more positive sense of self. It enhances mental health and happiness levels and makes it easier for them to pick up the other skills they need. Encourage them to enroll in a self-regulation program online from AOTA approved provider for optimum results.

Children with stronger self-regulation skills

• Are more successful in school
• Persist with things longer
• Cope better with greater and greater challenges
• Keep track of how they are doing and change their approach when needed
• Make friends more readily
• Become more intrinsically motivated
• Enjoy doing things just for the challenge, interest or pleasure and not for rewards

How Parents & Teachers Can Help Students Develop Skills?

Set Goals

Guide children to set goals that are attainable and not the one that is difficult to attain.

Strategies

Teach them a few strategies to help them attain the goal.

Monitor

Help them monitor their performance.

Evaluation

Spend time with them to self-reflect on what worked and did not and to also attribute their successes to their efforts.

Self-regulation Difficulties

The most challenging part of handling sensory issues is the self-regulation of feelings. While developing self-regulation skills, children will experience difficulties in regulating their feelings and behaviors.

Externalizing Behaviors

Externalizing behaviors such as tantrums, fighting with peers, hitting, and more are often relatively easy to recognize and tend to be noticed quickly. Children with these types of behaviors experience difficulty maintaining the ability to self-regulate their feelings and behaviors and tend to react instead. A good self-regulation program helps them to regain control of their feelings and behaviors and get back into balance.

Internalizing Behaviors

These behaviors are very difficult to notice as the feelings are directed inwardly by the child. Children with internalizing behaviors still experience intense feelings, but keep them inside instead of expressing them.

Children who struggle with self-regulation find it challenging to maintain a balance can get stuck in the ‘on’ or ‘off’ position.

If your child has challenging behavior, help him learn self-regulation skills through self regulation program online courses to control their sensory issues, and resist impulsive behavior.

The author of this article is a therapist in Australia that works with special needs populations. He has taken several AOTA approved provider self-regulation programs online and highly recommends that you visit https://www.alertprogram.com/ for more information.

The Alert Program® has boiled down complex theory to create simple, practical solutions you can incorporate into your everyday living.