What Does “Regulation” Mean for Kids?
Throughout the day, our bodies and brains are constantly taking in sensory information from the world around us. This information influences our nervous system and how alert, calm, or energised we feel. Even as adults, we naturally use strategies to help regulate ourselves. You might drink a warm cup of tea to help your body wind down before bed, or listen to loud, upbeat music to get energised before a workout. These are everyday examples of self-regulation in action.
For children, regulation plays an important role in their ability to learn, play, and participate in everyday activities. Regulation is about matching a child’s level of arousal or energy to the task they are doing. The goal is not for children to be calm all the time, but to find the level of energy that is “just right” for the moment. For example, higher energy and alertness can be helpful for activities like playing sport or running around at the playground. A calmer, more organised state can be helpful for tasks such as listening to instructions or learning in the classroom.
When a child’s sensory needs are not being met, either too much sensory input or not enough, their nervous system can become dysregulated. Dysregulation may show up as big emotions, difficulty focusing, impulsive behaviour, or feeling overwhelmed.
The Role of the Senses
Our sensory systems play an important role in helping the body balance energy levels and respond to the environment. Sensory input provides information to the nervous system, helping the body adjust to what a situation requires. We have 8 sensory systems in the body, all of which impact regulation:
- Visual: Processes colour, light, and shapes.
- Auditory: Processes sound, including volume and pitch.
- Tactile: Processes touch, texture, pressure, and pain.
- Gustatory: Processes taste.
- Olfactory: Processes smell.
- Vestibular: Detects movement, balance, and gravity.
- Proprioception: Provides information about body position and movement in space.
- Interoception: Helps us notice internal body signals such as hunger, heart rate, and emotions.
Together, these systems give the brain information about what is happening both inside and outside the body, helping children adjust their energy and behaviour.
Calming vs Alerting
Different types of sensory input can either calm the nervous system or increase alertness.
- Calming sensory inputs are usually slow, rhythmic, and deep. These activities help organise the body and brain, supporting a child to settle and prepare for tasks that require focus or rest.
- Alerting sensory inputs are typically faster, lighter, or more unpredictable. These activities help wake up the body and brain, supporting children to feel more energised and ready to participate.
Every child processes sensory information differently. Something that feels calming for one child might be alerting for another. To understand what works best for your child, it can be helpful to check in with how their body feels after different sensory experiences. You can also observe their body clues, such as facial expressions and body posture to guide whether an activity is waking their body up or helping it slow down.
Activities to Try at Home
Families can create a personalised sensory toolkit or “sensory diet” based on their child’s individual preferences and responses to sensory input. You may like to try some of the activities below and notice whether they feel calming or alerting for your child to help support their regulation throughout the day.
Visual
- Adjust lighting (bright or dim)
- Use lamps or natural light instead of overhead lighting
Auditory
- Listening to music (experiment with different volumes or tempos)
Tactile
- Using a fidget toy
Light tickling or touching different textures
Gustatory (Taste)
- Warm, soft foods
- Cold or crunchy foods
- Drinking through a straw
Olfactory (Smell)
- Smelling calming or refreshing scents (e.g. citrus or lavender)
Vestibular (Movement and Balance)
- Rocking
- Swinging
- Spinning
Proprioception (Body Awareness)
- Tight hugs
- “Heavy work” activities such as pushing or pulling objects, carrying groceries, wall pushes
- Jumping on a trampoline
Interoception (Body Awareness)
- Deep breathing
- Mindfulness activities or body scans
How MTS Can Support
At MTS, we support families to better understand their child’s unique sensory system and how it influences regulation, learning, and participation in everyday life.
An occupational therapist can work with you to:
- Complete a sensory assessment
- Provide coaching and practical strategies
- Develop a personalised sensory toolkit for home or school
- Share resources tailored to your child’s needs
With the right support, families can be better supported to understand their child and help them regulate and participate in daily life. Read more about sensory processing and big emotions.