Written by: Tiana Burda, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Lead at Family Achievement Center

FAC OTs work with children to recognize and regulate their emotions, sensory triggers and behaviors. We all interpret information throughout the day from eight senses. The eight senses include Visual (Sight), Auditory (Sound), Olfactory (Smell), Tactile (Touch), Gustatory (Taste), Proprioception, Vestibular, and Interoception. These eight senses give us the information needed to process and function as our best selves. Sensory dysfunction can cause anxiety, confusion, and dysregulation, further impacting our ability to regulate our emotions.

How Do Occupational Therapists Help?

OTs help families in many ways including education, environmental adaptations, and creating sensory diets to improve participation in daily living routines. The use of sensory diets can help parents be proactive with regulation enhancing a child’s ability to participate in challenging activities. OTs can partner with parents and school staff to address challenges with sensory dysfunction and emotional regulation.

Programs such as the Alert Program, Zones of Regulations, and Autism Level Up Energy Meter can give children the language and ability to express their emotions and identify various body signals. It is important for parents to co-regulate with their child prior to expecting their child to regulate their emotions independently.

Occupational Therapy is not the only discipline that can work with emotional regulation; Behavioral interventions, play therapy, mental health practitioners and/or family counseling are other great options for families.