The engine analogy is not the “be all and end all,” although the Alert Program® often uses the metaphor of a car engine running high, low, or just right. Young children relate to the playful side of it; adults drive and own cars, so they understand it from a practical standpoint. Naturally, each level has its […]
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Something going on with your kiddo? Maybe learning or socializing isn’t going so smoothly? You’ve come to the right site. Here are five Alert Program® tips to ease your mind and set change in motion. 1) Know that there are a lot of kids and teens like yours and parents like you — and loads […]
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Let’s Chat: What Is the Alert Program®? What makes a child too sluggish or hyper to learn, too wired to go to bed? Well, it all has to do with a bunch of stuff we occupational therapists have been studying for years, like alert states, sensory integration, self-regulation, automatic responses, sensory motor preferences. Jargon, jargon, […]
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How are things going with your kiddo? Maybe you’re seeing some behaviors that get in the way of learning and socializing. Or maybe your son or daughter has actually gotten a diagnosis, like autism or a learning disability. Well, take heart, you’re not stuck and you’re not alone. We’ve made these challenges our life’s work […]
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OK, prepare yourself, because your first question will be, “Where was this when I was in school?” Especially if some version of “sit still and pay attention” was the motto. The Alert Program® disagrees. It teaches that the brain was never designed to focus without body movement or sensory “brain breaks.” Take Five! Staying Alert […]
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If you’re unfamiliar with this dynamic duo of occupational therapists or their fun and effective sensory regulation program, this is the place to be. Read on! The Alert Program® is a cognitive and experiential sensorimotor approach to teach children how to change and maintain levels of alertness necessary for any given task during their day (i.e., how to self-regulate). Sherry […]
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As parents, we all want to help our children to grow, play, and learn. For our young ones, perhaps we hope they will learn to dress themselves, learn to write their name, or learn good table manners. You might be surprised to learn that self-regulation is the basis of these and all goals we have […]
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You know that student you have who always seems to be in the wrong gear? If everyone else is excited about painting a mural, he seems to need a nap. If it’s time to take turns reading aloud, he wants recess now. After recess, he’s too revved up for learning. And when he’s finally settled […]
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It is likely that, at this very moment, competition for your attention is fierce. While you are reading these words, your brain is being bombarded with countless pieces of sensory information per second, most of which is irrelevant to the task at hand. Can you keep reading? That depends. Do you feel lethargic, like a couch potato? […]
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Self-Regulation As occupational therapists, we teach that self-regulation is the ability to change how alert we feel. In the Alert Program®, we tell children and their parents, “if your body is like a car engine, sometimes it runs on high, sometimes it runs on low, and sometimes it runs just right.” We self-regulate every hour […]
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We believe that all behavior is a child’s best attempt to communicate. Also, we believe that by understanding self-regulation and sensory issues, we can better support optimal functioning. And that can help children to not only show us their talents and gifts, but live their days happily and interact comfortably in the world. Self-Regulation As […]
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