Supporting children through understanding regulation – part one

What is regulation and why is it important to children’s social and emotional wellbeing? This episode we’re joined by Ben Rogers, an occupational therapist and Manager of Community Trauma at Emerging Minds. Ben has worked across educational, clinical and developmental settings in the UK and Australia. As part of his current role, Ben works with Be You’s Bushfire Response Program to support learning communities following the 2019/2020 bushfires in Australia. 

This conversation ran for longer than usual, so we have split it into two parts. In part one, Ben shares his understanding of what regulation is, why practitioners might want to know about it, and what children need to develop healthy regulation.

In this episode you will learn:

• what regulation is [02:31]
• body-based approaches to support regulation [09:49]
• body-mapping and how to help children to understand their own regulation [16:18]
• therapeutic use of self and the importance of safety cues [18:19]
• what children need to develop healthy regulation [20:15]

Listen to part two:

Supporting children through understanding regulation – part two

Further information and resources: 

Podcast interview with Chris Cussen: A polyvagal approach to working with trauma: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/podcast/a-polyvagal-approach-to-working-with-trauma/