Page 44 - Course Handbook 2023

Unit 13: Responding in the Moment
What should I practise now?
How to help children get back on track quickly

SKILLS TO PRACTISE / STRENGTHEN RA

1 Practise staying kind, positive and calm – even when your buttons are being really pressed by a child:

The aim is for all adults to stay regulated, whatever the incident – so that all adults model the emotional
regulation we want children to learn.

❑ Think through times when it is harder to stay regulated.

❑ Trial ways to stay calm during these times e.g. taking breaths; self-talk; reframing the child’s words and
actions in terms of needs and skills; thinking of an event or person which fills you with positivity;
holding an item which helps you to feel calm and positive.

2 Practise ‘Connect to Calm’: speaking and acting in ways which helps the child to feel you understand how

things are for them and are there to support them.
❑ Practise being able to connect with a child even when they are really struggling to keep to expectations

and doing things which are unhelpful to you or others (this is a difficult skill – it is easy when a child is
upset or even refusing, but when they are saying or doing things which are hurtful or dangerous, it
takes huge skill and mindset to remember that this behaviour stems from unmet needs and is a sign of
stress). You will know when you are skilled because you will be great at getting children being rational
quickly.

3 Practise suggesting things that might help the child to feel great and do well in that moment and will get them

back on track – working with a particular person, help to complete the first part of the task, a drink of water or

snack, some proprioception movements at the back of the room, a specific job to feel involved.