Supporting the Child in Distress

This session will focus on the child who frequently becomes dysregulated and communicates their distress through behaviour. The workshop will outline what it means to be “in distress” or “crisis” and which children are more vulnerable to using behaviour to express unmet needs, including children with neurodiversity, disability, and trauma.

The session will also focus on the importance of good Tier 1 support strategies across the whole environment to reduce barriers to inclusion, how to support emotional regulation and the importance of Educator self-care. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the stages of a “Crisis cycle”, how Educators can respond at each stage of the crisis & reflect on their responses. The workshop will also outline things to consider when developing a plan to support the child but also reduce the risk of harm to self and others.

In this workshop you will….

• Explore what influences a child’s emotional development
• Better understand the impact of neurodivergence or early adversity on emotional regulation
• Explore the stages of a Crisis Cycle and how Educators can best respond at different stages of the crisis and reflect on their current responses
• Reflect on the importance of Educator self-care

Recommended Audience: Early Childhood or OSHC Educators