Co-regulation
Co-regulation is when we can offer our calming presence to help a child feel safe and calm again (Delahooke, 2019). To be a "therapeutic agent" in this "process of mutual support," as Dr. Mona Delahooke calls it, we must be on the green pathway ourselves. The following worksheet can be used to assess yourself before choosing to act in response to a child in distress.
Awareness and self care are the firs steps to getting back to the green pathway so we can be co-regulators for our students. "Emotions are transmitted from one person to the next, and through neuroception we pick up on them" (Delahooke, 2019). This is why it is important to be self-aware as adults, because our emotional states cannot be hidden. Here are some things to think about as you consider your own triggers to build a greater sense of self-awareness in order to stay calm in moments your students are in distress:
Reflect and write down the factors in your history or current situation that may challenge your ability to stay in the green pathway.
Consider and write down your own personal triggers that can lead you onto a red pathway when you are managing a child's behavior.
Think of an write down some positive supports you can create for yourself to counter those such reactions.
"We can't truly help children with their behavioral challenges without first helping ourselves to be present, self-aware, and calm" (Delahooke, 2019). Please do not beat yourself up if you have been on the red or blue pathways when working with our students. Working on awareness, coming up with a self-care routine, and creating a plan with personalized self-regulation tools to guide you back to the green pathway in those moments is the best way to support yourself and your students. Head on over to the Educator Nervous System pages for some ideas and tools if you need; take care of yourself! <3
Source: Delahooke, M. (2019). Beyond behaviors: Using brain science and compassion to understand and solve children's behavioral challenges. PESI Publishing & Media.
Credit: Dr. Lori Desautels, Revelations in Education
Cohort 7 of the 2022-2023 Applied Educational Neuroscience certification program at Butler University created this resource of coregulation strategies and practices, compiled and designed by the fabulous Courtney Boyle!