Regulation Station

Regulation Station is a game where children will learn about all the things that can make us hyperaroused and hypoaroused. This targets a broader range of emotions, their triggers and their consequent behaviours without targetting any emotion specifically. It aims to promote the importance of regulating ourselves, which is done via discussion that takes place throughout the game.

This game uses the Window of Tolerance concept, developed by Dan Siegel, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry. The idea is that there is a window of tolerance within which we function and thrive in everyday life. There are things that happen throughout our day that will either elevate our arousal (e.g. angry, scared, overwhelmed), or stifle it (e.g. exhaustion, detachment, depression).

When we become too hyperaroused or hypoaroused, we can go outside of our window of tolerance and therefore stop functioning as well as we could. It is therefore important to develop skills in self-regulation, in order to navigate our state of arousal to keep it in check. This game will bring allow pupils to learn these skills via discussions from the comfort and engagement of a board game.

BENEFITS TO PUPILS WITH SEN

This game tackles a wide variety of behvaiours and emotions without mentioning them explicitly. For example, although violent behaviour isn't mentioned specifically, it can be referred to and discussed when dealing with hyperarousal. Same thing goes with a reluctance to participate in group activities and hypoarousal.

The Window of Tolerance concept is used as a way to illustrate the importance of self-regulation and it's role in promoting healthy executive function. This game takes the concept and uses the same visual connection to engage your children with SEN through learning about, and discussing their own triggers for hyper and hypoarousal; therefore also discussing potential strategies to overcome their own self-regulation challenges.

As with all SENGO games, this game can be tweaked to meet the needs of your pupils, so feel free to change rules to make the game easier/ harder, shorter/ longer.