State of Regulation

Potential displayed behaviours

Responsive co-regulation

Calm

• Safe
• Engaged

• Steady heart/breathing rate
• Calm state of arousal
• Open to social engagement
• Expressive facial expression
• Able to process language
• Engage in thinking to learn

• Maximise social engagement
• Fully engage and connect using the face, voice, movement
• Encourage listening and expressive responses
• Engage thinking skills to reflect and make connections
• Introduce gentle challenge through play/activity

Stressed

• Agitated
• Withdrawn

• Slightly raised heart and breathing rate
• Signs of agitation, frustration and anxiety
•  Raised hypervigilance
• Lack of focus, easily distracted
• Increased mobilisation
• Early signs of helplessness or needing to take control

• Connect through eye contact, facial expressions and movement
• Express calmness through voice and open facial expression
• Attune to the mood, intensity and energy of the child
• Respond by being more animated to attune to agitation, increase intensity to attune to anger, be gentle and delicate to attune to sadness.
• Respond empathically, validate feelings
• Use calming, soothing and regulatory activities

Dysregulated

/highly anxious 

•  Mobilised

• High levels of arousal or distress
• Hyper vigilant
• Difficulty listening and focusing
• Mobilised, fidgeting, jumping, running, climbing, etc.
• Raised voice, decreased expressivity
• Threatening or oppositional behaviour

• Reduce social demands but remain present
• Provide individual attention
• Let them know you are able to ‘hold’ their dysregulation by remaining regulated
• Convey your calm and regulated state by being confident and contained, using quiet, calm sounds and tones which are expressive and confident.
• Reduce language, give short, clear directions. Avoid questions and choices
• Use a predictable routine
• Reduce sensory input, lights, noise. Use sensory soothing