Sensory and Beyond: Supporting Self-Regulation in Children and Youth

Presenter

Aimee Piller

PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA

Learner Outcomes

1. At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to describe the three components of self-regulation, emotional, cognitive, and sensory regulation, and their impact on participation in daily occupations across various settings.

2. At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to apply self-regulation and co-regulation strategies to their own practice to support participation across environments.

Abstract

Self-regulation is a multi-faceted process that involves the ability to manage behavior, emotions, and cognitive processes to participate in daily activities and roles. It is comprised of emotional regulation, cognitive regulation, and sensory regulation, all of which occupational therapy practitioners are well equipped to help children and youth develop and implement positive strategies to improve self-regulation and participation. This session will offer a comprehensive overview of the evelopmental trajectory of self-regulation in children and youth, with a focus on practical, evidence-informed strategies that can be implemented across various environments, including the home, school, and community settings. Participants will learn approaches to enhance self-regulation through the promotion of self-awareness, empowerment, and self-advocacy. The session will also emphasize the importance of co-regulation and provide caregivers with strategies to support their children’s regulation needs. Finally, participants will apply the information presented to develop strategies for their own settings to support all aspects of self-
regulation and increase participation for the clients they serve. Participants will leave with an understanding of the complexity of self-regulation at various ages and be able to apply evidence-informed strategies to support self-regulation in children and youth across settings.

Biography
Aimee Piller, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, FAOTA, is the owner of Piller Child Development. She volunteers with AOTA and AOTF and is the author of *Implementing School-Based Occupational Therapy Services*. She has numerous national and international publications, presentations, and podcast contributions. 

References to support evidence-based practice

1. Long, E., Gardani, M., McCann, M., Sweeting, H., Tranmer, M., & Moore, L. (2020). Mental health disorders and adolescent peer relationships. Social science & medicine, 253, 112973. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112973

2. McHugh Conlin, J. & Piller, A. (2024). Tools for cognitive, emotional, and sensory regulation in pediatrics. Children and Youth Special Interest Section Quarterly, https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/children-youth-sis/cysis-8-24https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/children-youth-sis/cysis-8-24

    

3. Pyatak, E. A., Carandang, K., Rice Collins, C., & Carlson, M. (2022). Optimizing occupations, habits, and routines for health and well-being with Lifestyle Redesign®: A synthesis and scoping review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(5), 7605205050.