Self-regulation helps keep kids balanced
In a WA first, two primary schools are teaching young children to recognise their own emotions when stress levels rise - and give them ways to manage those feelings before they lose control.
Occupational therapists and psychologists from Parkerville Children and Youth Care are running a self-regulation program with preprimary to Year 3 students at Kelmscott and Thornlie primary schools.
Therapeutic services director Amanda Paton said the agency wanted to find out whether teaching strategies to control responses to feelings such as anger, fear and stress would help behaviour and attentiveness.
Some children needed physical help to focus, such as balancing on an exercise ball instead of sitting on a chair, or a weighted blanket on their lap to calm them.
A time-out from desk-based activity for students to work on balancing and co- ordination skills could also help them focus.
