About the Alert Program®...."If your body is like a car engine, sometimes it runs on high, sometimes it runs on low, and sometimes it runs just right." When teachers, therapists, or parents use these simple words to begin the Alert Program®, they enter an exciting adventure with children. The journey unfolds easily with the program's clearly defined steps for teaching self-regulation awareness. The book, How Does Your Engine Run?® A Leader's Guide to the Alert Program® for Self-Regulation (Williams & Shellenberger, 1996), describes an innovative program that supports children, teachers, parents, and therapists to choose appropriate strategies to change or maintain states of alertness. Students learn what they can do before a spelling test or homework time to attain an optimal state of alertness for their tasks. Teachers learn what they can do after lunch, when their adult nervous systems are in a low alert state and their students are in a high alert state. Parents learn what they can do to help their toddler's nervous system change from a high alert state to a more appropriate low state at bedtime. Leaders of the program not only learn what they can do to support self-regulation, but how to share the underlying theory so all can understand the basics of sensory integration. By reading the book or attending a conference, adults increase awareness of their own self-regulation thereby improving their ability to facilitate students' optimal functioning. The Sensory-Motor Preference Checklist (for Adults) is a tool used to support this learning process. For example by filling out the checklist, adults may discover that before work, they may drink coffee, take a brisk walk, or listen to jazzy music to get their engine up and going for the day. Or others may find that they drink hot chocolate, rock in a rocking chair, or watch the glow of a fireplace to get their engine slowed down after a busy day. Bringing to awareness what most people do automatically in their daily routines, fosters the understanding of how important self-regulation is for students' functioning. Although the Alert Program® initially was intended for children with attention and learning difficulties, ages 8-12, it has been adapted for preschool through adult and for a variety of disabilities. If children are intellectually challenged or developmentally younger than the age of eight, the program's concepts can be utilized by staff to develop sensory diets (Wilbarger & Wilbarger, 1991) to enhance learning. Join the group of teachers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, adapted physical educators, educational assistants, counselors, social workers, and parents who are enhancing children's lives using the Alert Program®.

Alert Program®

Therapy Works Children's Program: How Does Your Engine Run?®

checkout
THE LEADER'S GUIDE contains the complete program. It explains the theory along with step-by-step instructions and activities. It was written for therapists to teach children how to identify and change how alert they feel. Many therapists, teachers and parents have taught themselves how to do the program, just by reading the Leader's Guide book.

This is an essential resource for those working with children who have attention problems and/or learning difficulties.

The program consists of a series of lessons and activities, that when incorporated with sensory processing techniques, has proven to be highly effective. Though initially designed for children ages eight to twelve, the program has been adapted successfully for preschool through high school students and for adults.

This comprehensive book is a gold mine of information for use in school, clinic, or home settings. It will provide everything you need to implement the program with confidence, including:
  • Overview of the underlying theory and concepts of sensory integration and self-regulation.
  • Unique methods to teach other adults (teachers, parents, etc.) who support the Alert Program® students.
  • Twelve detailed steps to teach independent self-regulation.
  • Over 20 practical, low budget activity ideas.
  • Personal clinical stories that clearly illustrate the program.
  • All worksheets, charts, and pictures needed for the program (permission to photocopy included).
The Leader's Guide is intended for individuals who are familiar with sensory processing techniques. Those who are unfamiliar with this theory can implement the program with consultation from an occupational therapist or other professional trained in sensory processing. All will find the Introductory Booklet, CD, and Take Five! useful, whether or not they are familiar with sensory processing theory.

Spiral Bound, 130 pages, Published by TherapyWorks, Inc (1996).

ISBN#: 978-0-9643041-0-9

Price: $40.00 Each

Quantity:

Do you want to receive continuing education credit for reading this Alert Program product?

Click here to learn more about our
self-study CEU test.

Copyright 2010 Therapy Works Inc. Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us
This website is best viewed at 800x600 resolution.