Understanding Dysregulation: Seeing Beyond "That Child is Being Difficult”
- Ready Rocket Resources
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
When we say a child is “so dysregulated,” it often means their nervous system is overwhelmed and their natural fight-flight stress response has kicked in. They’re not just “acting out.” They’re trying to cope with demands that feel too big for their brain and body right now.
Pause and Reflect
Before you respond, take a moment to check in with yourself:
How am I doing right now?
Am I feeling calm and regulated, or do I need a short pause or support from a colleague? This isn’t always easy, especially in busy environments. But our calm presence can be one of the most powerful tools we bring to a child who is feeling overwhelmed.
Could the environment be playing a role?
Is it too loud, too cold, too busy, or limiting their ability to move freely? Sensory input can quickly overwhelm a child’s nervous system, especially when their thresholds are different to ours or others around them. A small environmental change might ease a big emotional response.
Tuning Into the Child’s Needs
It’s often the simple things that are most easily missed:
Could they be hungry, tired, or needing the toilet?
Is the activity offering a “just right” challenge — not too easy, not too hard — for their current capacity?
Have we broken the task into smaller, achievable steps that match where they are today?
When we meet a child where they’re at, rather than where we wish they were, we support them to feel safe, capable, and connected.
The Brain Behind the Behaviour
When a child feels dysregulated, their prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that helps with reasoning and self-control) takes a back seat to the more basic limbic system, which manages survival responses.
This means their body and brain are focused on staying safe before thinking logically.
Our role is to gently help them move from this “survival mode” back into a space where they can learn and grow.
How You Can Help Support Emotional Regulation
The Galaxy Guide to Running My Rocket stands out among other emotional regulation tools with its unique rocket journey concept, emphasis on internal needs, and focus on promoting co-regulation towards self-regulation in a neurodiverse-affirming way. By utilising this resource, children gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and develop the skills needed to navigate them successfully, leading to enhanced emotional well-being.
Want to Learn More About Ready Rocket Strategies in Action?
💻 Ready Rocket has a range of supports for parents, professionals, and educators who want to confidently guide children through big emotions in a way that’s supportive, science-informed, and truly neuroaffirming.
Choose the Path That’s Right for You:
👨👩👧👦 Online Emotions Workshop – Parents & Carers
🕒 4-hour self-paced training
Gain the tools and knowledge to support your child through emotional dysregulation with confidence and compassion.
🧠 Online Emotions Workshop – Therapists & Allied Health Professionals
🕒 4.5-hour self-paced training
Learn a developmentally-informed, neuroaffirming approach to regulation support for diverse clients and therapy goals.
🏫 Ready Rocket School Learning Program – Educators
A classroom-ready, whole-school emotional regulation program built on the same powerful framework with extension into these concepts and more! Includes developmentally tailored content for Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, and Year 2.
Perfect for early childhood and primary teachers looking for practical, evidence-aligned emotional literacy education.
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