If your child struggles with self-regulation awareness, the Alert Program® could be a wonderful tool to use to help them recognise their emotions and take the steps to regulate.
Everyday children experience a range of emotions as they go to school, see their friends, and complete their daily tasks. Certain events may heighten a child’s state of regulation, as they may get very excited while playing at the park or visiting friends, or may feel angry and frustrated when they encounter a problem. Other events may significantly lower a child’s state of regulation, where they may feel bored or tired after a long school day. These highs and lows can be very challenging for children to manage independently, especially if they find it difficult to recognise their state of regulation and body language in the moment.
The Alert Program® is a great tool for helping children and adults alike identify their state of regulation and take the necessary steps to self-regulate. Developed by renowned occupational therapists Mary Sue Williams and Sherry Shellenberger, the Alert Program® uses a car engine analogy to help children learn how to recognise their feelings and to teach them strategies to get their alertness back to an optimal state. As part of this analogy there are 3 engines to describe their state of regulation, and there is a visual dial that kids can use to indicate their current engine level.
Williams, M.S., & Shellenberger, S.
You’re probably wondering what the 3 types of engines mean!
First, we have an engine that runs on high. This engine describes when people are at a heightened state of regulation, just like a volcano that is erupting! In this state people may feel angry, frustrated, or excited. They may have too much energy and be unable to listen to others, keep still, or keep their hands and legs away from others.
Then, there is an engine that runs of low. This engine describes when people are at a lowered state of regulation, where they may feel tired and bored, and may find it difficult to sit up, move around or listen to people.
Finally, an engine can be just right. When a person’s engine is just right, they are feeling happy, energised, engaged and ready to learn. They can listen to others, play and interact with others, and can complete work.
Much like a car, if a person’s or child’s engine is running too high or too low, they won’t be able to participate in activities or comfortably go about their day. Recognising how they are feeling and how their engine is running is the first step to being able to regulate themselves, where they can alert themself and other people if their engine is running too high or low. Once they have identified how their engine is running, they can then try self-regulation strategies to help their engine get back to being just right. There are a range of self-regulation strategies for when someone’s engine is running high or low that can be used to help their engine get back to being just right. Here are some examples of strategies people could try. Remember not every strategy will be suitable for every person!
Low Engine Strategies
- Take a deep breath
- Go for a walk
- Move your body
- Touch your toes
High Engine Strategies
- Take a deep breath
- Stretch your body
- Walk away
- Use ear plugs
- Use tools from a sensory box
There is an online course about the Alert Program® that can be accessed through https://www.alertprogram.com/.
References
Williams, M.S., & Shellenberger, S. (1992). An introduction to “How Does Your Engine Run?”® The Alert Program® for self-regulation [Booklet]. Albuquerque, NM: TherapyWorks, Inc.
Williams, M. S., Shellenberger, S. A. (2014). Alert Program® Online Course. AlertProgram.com. https://www.alertprogram.com/need-continuingeducation-units/?doing_wp_cron=1619131122.0342929363250732421875
