The Ultimate Guide to Self Regulation in Children

The Ultimate Guide to Self-Regulation

Self regulation is the ability to tolerate sensations, situations and distress and form appropriate responses.  Simply stated, it is the ability to control emotions, thinking, behavior and motor actions in different situations.Here are the many different strategies,

Here are the many different strategies, tips and resources that Your Therapy Source has provided over the years all compiled in one location. Think of it as the ultimate guide to self regulation in children.

What? Why? How? Self Regulation Skills hand out – download for free.

Self Regulation Games for Children – Megan McClelland, Ph.D., Associate Professor Human Development and Family Sciences, and her student, Shauna Tominey, have allowed us to share the activities that they are working on developing to facilitate self regulation skills.

Self Regulation as a Predictor of Academic Abilities – Children with higher levels of self regulation in the beginning of the school year achieved higher scores in reading, vocabulary, and math at the end of the school year. The researchers concluded that improving self regulation in children can improve academic achievement and behavioral responses.

Aerobic Exercise Improved Self Regulation and Behavior – The results indicated that following the aerobic intervention phase, children experienced 32% to 51% lower odds of poor self-regulation and learning-inhibiting disciplinary time out of class.

Self Regulation Skills Curriculum Move, Work, Breathe – This curriculum provides an effective, time-efficient structured system to provide classroom breaks, improve self-awareness and self advocacy and teach specific self-regulation skills so that kids have tools to use in their classrooms. This system will get kids moving, give them the benefits of a brain power boost [from getting their heart rate up], give them heavy work and isometrics to help them calm down, and help them learn techniques to quiet and control their bodies in order to return to their academic work.

Self Assessment Checklist for In Class Behavior and Self Regulation – Students can refer to the checklist throughout classroom work to check in on their organizational skills, state of regulation, focus, effort, and behavior in class.

Fun Games to Practice Self Regulation Skills (No Equipment Needed) – Playing games help children to practice and learn self regulation!  Think about it.  Playing games help us to learn to: wait, follow rules and to tolerate losing.  Here are 10 FUN games that require no preparation or equipment to practice and learn self regulation skills

Self Regulation Skills and Developmental Coordination Disorder – Read more on why children with DCD experience difficulty effectively self-regulating motor learning.

Self Regulation Skills at School – Students are expected to control their actions in large group settings, small groups, transitions, independent work time, recess, the lunchroom and more.  When students struggle in the area of self regulation it can result in loss of instructional time due to unacceptable behaviors.

Yoga and Self Regulation for Older Students – The results indicated that the students who participated in mindful yoga demonstrated significant increases in both global and long-term self-regulation compared to the control group of students. There were no significant changes in short-term self-regulation.

Self Regulation, Yoga, and Preschoolers – The assessments showed significant effects of the mindful yoga intervention on all three indices of self-regulation.

Self Regulation, Cognitive Abilities, and Motor Disabilities – Students with considerable motor disabilities and mild-to-moderate cognitive disabilities showed a positive, but unrealistic, self-regulation profile.

Everyday Outdoor Activities to Practice Self Regulation – The more practice children have to develop self regulation skills, the more children will be better able to think before they act.

Early Predictors of Autism – Self Regulation and Sleep Patterns – A majority of the differences in communication and language, mental/cognitive function, motor function, social interaction, and self-regulation were identified at the 2-year time point.

Free App to Help with Deep Breathing, Self Regulation, and Motor Planning – Here is a nice FREE app for little ones who needs some guidance with self regulation and motor planning.

Self Regulation and Obesity – The children who exhibited a decrease in the ability to self regulate had the highest BMI and the most rapid weight gain.

Visual Supports Schedules, Self Regulation, and Classroom Inclusion – Visual supports for self-regulation can be pivotal in implementing an IEP in the least restrictive environment. This digital download includes 283 visuals.

Group Games to Help with Self Regulation – More and more research indicates that children with strong self regulation skills in preschool and kindergarten do significantly better on math, reading and vocabulary skills.  In addition, children who lack self regulation exhibit excessive weight gain.   Here are 3 group games to help children develop self regulation skills.  These activities work great for indoor recess ideas or for a quick brain break!

Physical Activity, Self Regulation and Preschoolers – Higher active play was associated with better self-regulation, which in turn was associated with higher scores on early reading and math assessments.

Steps to Help Children Improve Self Control and Focus – The goal is to use the techniques that the child already has for self regulation and infuse them throughout the day to maintain self control and focus.

Self Regulated Strategy Development– Self regulated strategy development (SRSD) is an instructional model to teach writing strategies to students. SRSD has been researched and shown to result in significant and meaningful improvements in writing knowledge, writing quality, writing approach, self-regulation skills, and motivation.

Tips to Help Children Develop Self Control – Read 10 simple tips to help children develop self regulation skills.

Mindfulness Activities for Young Children –  Research indicates that mindfulness techniques in school aged children can help to improve: sense of wellbeing, ability to focus, relaxation and self regulation.

Watch a video explaining the importance of self regulation skill development in children and how you can help.

Here are some additional suggestions using video to help with self regulation skills if you are working on:

1. strengthening and balance – Body Series: 3 Yoga/Movement Story Videos for Strength, Flexibility & Balance.
2. self control and focus –  Mind Series: Yoga Story Videos for Focus, Self-Awareness & Self-Control.  
3. calming, confidence and self regulation – Heart Series: Yoga Story Videos for Calm, Caring & Confidence
4. self regulation skills – Adventure Skills Self Regulation Flash Cards.

The best deal is on the complete bundle of 9 videos and flash cards.  This can take care of your lesson planning for all year!

 

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Inspirational OT Starts Imprint Hope Foundation

About two weeks ago, I read an article about an occupational therapist who is starting up a foundation to help children with disabilities in Uganda. Her story is so inspiring. I contacted her and asked her a few questions about Imprint Hope.  There is a link to donate to Imprint Hope at the bottom of the post.  I just donated for her expenses – without her there none of this will get accomplished.  What an inspirational pediatric OT!

Here is the interview with Clare Byrne, OT –

Q:  Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you started Imprint Hope.

I founded Imprint Hope from a burning fire within my heart to bring help, HOPE and purpose to children with disabilities in Uganda, East Africa. I grew up alongside my sister, Kate, who has various physical and neurological impairments. Kate’s life has allowed me peak inside the complex soul of a person with a disability and see the valuable gifts every child with a disability has to leave on the world.

I always wondered what happened to children with disabilities in other countries. This probing question took me to Uganda in 2013. I spent a year there volunteering as an Occupational Therapist at an orphanage with over 500 children with disabilities. 

During my year in Uganda, my heart was moved to the core, how I witnessed children with disabilities rejected, abandoned, locked away in orphanages and seen as a curse in Ugandan society. This disparity made my heart so restless and empowered me to do something about it! 

Imprint Hope was then founded on a simple premise that every person in the world has been given a different fingerprint for a very specific purpose. Each one of us has different lines and jagged edges on each one of our fingers, which I believe is a testimony to the fact that we all have a unique set of gifts to “imprint” on the world. Children with disabilities are no exception.

Q:  Tell us more about Imprint Hope.

Imprint Hope is currently targeting a Ugandan village that has a high prevalence of children with disabilities. These are children with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Cerebral Malaria, Brachial Plexus Injuries, Hydrocephalus, joint dislocations, and swallowing disorders. 

We are trying to initially outreach to these children by providing education to caretakers on how to understand their child’s challenges, provide rehabilitation services in the home and supply wheelchairs/adaptive equipment to the children. 

Our hope and dream is to ultimately construct a rehabilitation clinic where children can receive Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and nursing services. We also hope to provide educational classes  on disabilities, so caretakers have a greater level of understanding on the origin of a disability and how they can help their child. 

Q:  Do you provide all the OT services or do you have other therapists who help you?

I am currently the only Occupational Therapist on our team. Upon arriving in Uganda, I’m actively seeking to work with Ugandan Physical Therapist (PT) and Occupational Therapist (OT) who have a heart for helping children with disabilities. The level of training for OT’s, PT’s and medical professionals in Uganda is drastically different from America, so I hope to connect both worlds, so we can learn from each other.

I’m also actively trying to set-up a rotation of Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist, Nurses and Doctors from Europe and America to come over to Uganda and help serve alongside us. Together we can help empower abundant life for these children.  If you can help provide a connection to set up other medical providers send an email to Clare @ Imprint Hope. com

Q:  Has it been difficult starting a non-profit organization?

Forming a non-profit organization has been a humbling learning experience of asking questions, seeking out the help of knowledgable professionals, problem solving and many sleepless nights of filling out IRS documentation. My motivation throughout this exciting and challenging journey has been vividly seeing the eyes of those children with disabilities lying in mud huts all day staring up at a roof with no access to medical care or rehabilitation services. Those children need a voice to fight for them and I want to be that voice of hope, understanding and love, whatever the personal sacrifice.

Q:  When you return to Uganda later this month, what is your top priority?

I’m moving back to Uganda on August 17th for an indefinite period of time to work in a village with a high prevalence of children with disabilities. Initially upon arrival, our initial goal is to establish a presence and rapport with the local people by traveling  in/out of their homes and providing the children with OT and PT services, medication, and wheelchairs/adaptive equipment. Establishing a connection with Ugandan medical professional will be vital throughout this whole process as well. This is an ingrained culture of disregarding children with disabilities, so its  it’s going to take time to make a sustainable presence and impact the community at large. 

Ugandans watch foreigners with an eagle eye, so providing a patient, loving and compassionate example on “how” to hold, talk, feed, and handle these beautiful children will be essential.

Q:  Share your most favorite OT moment from Imprint Hope.  

My first week in Uganda I met Joseph, who is a persevering little 7-year old with Cerebral Palsy. Joseph had spent his life in a dormitory because he never received any therapy to help him manage his physical impairments. Joseph approached me one day and said ‘Sister, teach me how to walk, so I can go to school.’ 

In Uganda, children with disabilities need to be able to walk and be toilet trained to enter a classroom. 

Well after two months of Occupational Therapy, Joseph took his first step independently.  In four months time, he was navigating his environment with lofstrand crutches and standby physical assistance. Joseph is now navigating dynamic and incline surfaces independently and is going to school. Vividly remembering the look of joy in Joseph’s eyes at receiving this gift of functional mobility always brings tears to my eyes. 

Q:  What can we do to help?

Imprint Hope runs solely off the generosity and selfless virtue of others. At this time, Imprint Hope is in dire need of therapy supplies and financial assistance. 

A donation makes it possible to begin constructing Imprint Hope’s rehabilitation clinic. As well as for children with disabilities to receive rehabilitation services, (i..e therapy 2-3 times a week); for a child with a disability to sit up for the first time in a wheelchair; for families to be educated on how to feed, hold, and take care of their child and for all to learn the invaluable potential and beautiful purpose of every human soul. 

HERE IS THE LINK TO DONATE TO IMPRINT HOPE.

Thank you for joining this collaborative effort to help children with disabilities leave their beautiful “imprint” of joy on the world! 

 

Gratefully,  

Clare Byrne 

Founder Imprint Hope

Discover Potential. Foster Hope. Empower Purpose

https://imprinthope.com 

WOW right?  Every time I read about Clare and her drive to help others it brings me to tears.  Think of all the children that you have worked with in your career and the amazing resources most of them have compared to these children.  Imagine if we did not have the educational system that we have in the United States to help children with disabilities to learn and thrive.  Breaks my heart to think that so many children are suffering but warms my heart to know that Clare, an occupational therapist, is doing her part to help change that!  Hoping my donation will help to support her new foundation and that the other therapists who read the blog will donate as well so we can help support her cause.  GO CLARE!

Read more about Imprint Hope here.

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Back to School Handwriting Pages

Here are two free sample pages from the My School Handwriting Packet.  No matter what type of handwriting instruction methodology you are using, children need practice sessions to improve their handwriting.  These handwriting pages provide some simple copy work with back to school themed words and sentences.  You can print them full page or half page.  This is a great no-prep activity to determine a baseline handwriting sample at the start of the school year.  Download the two free sample pages from the My School Handwriting Packet.

You can get more details on the complete My School Handwriting Packet here.  This copy booklet is easy to encourage handwriting practice.  The five types of font/layout include: 1. Dotted line Zaner-Bloser® type font, 2. Dotted line Zaner-Bloser® type font with highlighted lines  3.  Double line Handwriting Without Tears® type font, 4. New South Wales (NSW) Foundation Manuscript and 5. Cursive font.  FIND OUT MORE INFO.

 

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