Co-regulation is the process when children develop the ability to manage emotions, responses and impulses both in mind and body (self-regulation) through connection with nurturing and reliable caregivers. Children need to understand their own feelings and those of others, and learn to regulate their behaviour accordingly. One of the key ways children learn to self-regulate is through co-regulation. With modelling, support and nurture, practitioners can learn to co-regulate alongside the children so that they can develop those important skills. This dip-in-and-out guide will help practitioners provide the strongest foundations for children and to give them the best emotional start in life. It provides meaningful and inclusive ideas for co-regulation that can be embedded into everyday practice, and be used for a broad range of emotional needs, without being tokenistic. These practical and easy-to-resource ideas are expertly formulated to support and develop children’s self-regulation skills.
