Question
What does dysregulation look like?
Answer
- Motor actions
- Unexpected responses, over the top, fussiness
- Verbal behavior, blurting, yelling, noise-making
- Intrusive and disruptive behavior
- Snap decision-making without thinking of consequences
- Restlessness, often expressed as “on the go”
In the early years, dysregulation in children often manifests as disinhibited behavior. They may engage in impulsive actions, displaying a "free-for-all" attitude where they grab things without consideration or repeatedly engage in disruptive and inappropriate activities. This behavior can lead to disruptions in the classroom, conflicts among peers, or problems within a group setting, like a play area or center.
Motor actions are commonly observed when children are dysregulated. These may include invading personal space, throwing objects, mishandling materials, or using them in unexpected and inappropriate ways.
Dysregulated children may display overt signs of fussiness, such as verbal outbursts, yelling, blurting out, or making excessive noise. As teachers, it is essential to observe patterns in their behavior to identify triggers for dysregulation. For example, a child might exhibit disruptive behavior right before snack time, while another child may have difficulty settling down after a recess break.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Exploring Self-Regulation With 3 To 5 Year Olds, presented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L.