FREE! Adaptive Regulation - Informational Handout

Regulation is an umbrella term that encompasses one’s ability to control and

adjust their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, energy levels, sensory experiences and attention in response to the environment or activity demands. Our body and brains are constantly adjusting our levels of alertness, responding to the sensory environment and utilizing learned regulation strategies to promote meaningful participation in everyday life!

Our bodies constantly process sensory information from our environment and within our body. We experience the world through our 8 senses both externally and internally. Sensory information is processed / organized in our central nervous system and brain. Interpretation of sensory information allows us to create or adjust our motor responses in order to participate in almost every activity in our daily lives

The way we process and respond to sensory information also impacts our level of arousal, or alertness. Our energy levels shift throughout the day and serve as different protective factors, depending on the task or environment. While it is normal to fluctuate throughout different levels of alertness throughout the day, having a level of alertness that does not match the activity demand or environment can make one’s readiness to learn difficult.

It is important to teach children to identify their own level of alertness and explore different sensory-based strategies to support overall body regulation to engage in the world around them!

We can support this by creating safe and nurturing environments and intentionally teaching and modeling of everyday coping and regulation strategies. This helps children learn adaptive tools to support their participation in everyday life!