Improve Self-Regulation Through Language & Communication Skills: Practical Strategies & Tools for Children & Adolescents – Christine A Wing

You’ve worked with the child who has difficulty transitioning from one activity to another, becoming upset or overly silly. Waiting for his turn is difficult if not impossible, as is following daily routines. Despite repeated requests from his teacher to “use your words,” he typically is not able to communicate his wants and needs and becomes angry or shuts down. This child lacks self-regulation, and struggles both academically and socially.

Communication skills play an important role in the development of self-regulation. In this workshop, you will learn how to use language to improve self-regulation for children with:

• Language delays/disorders
• Emotional & Behavior Disorders
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• Attachment disorders
• Autism
• Social Risk

You will learn techniques in formats that you can apply to your work immediately, illustrated through case studies and intervention videos. Bring your challenges with you to the workshop, as Dr. Wing will also facilitate group problem-solving. Discover new and innovative ways to help children develop self-regulation through language!

1. Characterize the roles of language comprehension, expression, and pragmatics in the development of self-regulation.
2. Articulate the role of internal state words in the development of self-regulation.
3. Analyze shared competencies for the multidisciplinary team providing service to children.
4. Articulate the key elements of reflective practice in the therapeutic setting.
5. Evaluate appropriate strategies (based on the service setting) to increase self-regulation
6. Develop appropriate interventions that can readily become part of the program currently being used for children at participant’s service setting.

Relationship Between Language and Behavior

• Language comprehension and expression
• Language pragmatics
• Dynamics of shared risk factors:
• depression, family conflict, parent education, fathers, and attachment

Role of Language in Self-Regulation

• Internal state words/words that express:
• Volition/ability Physical states
• Perception Emotions
• Morality Thought
• Working at the intersection of socialemotional and language development
• Facilitate self-regulatory language
• Theory of Mind
• Executive Function

Strategies for Language Disorders/Delays

• Determine knowledge and use of internal state words
• Fast mapping internal state words for early language
• Words for:
• Intention Ability
• Judgment Cognition
• Time
• Condition build problem-solving
• Self-talk for problem-solving video

Strategies for Emotional/Behavioral Disorders/Conduct Disorder

• Screen for language reception, expression, and pragmatics
• Identify behavior problem and use corresponding verbal input
• Debrief after problem episode
• Script development demonstration and video examples
• Use role models
• Co-regulation strategies
• Nonverbal body-calming techniques

Strategies for ADHD

• Focus and condense instructions
• Language for organization and staying on task
• Determine child’s level of language skills
• Cues for low to high language levels
• Transition to self-cuing

Strategies for Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Translate behavior to words
• Pair sensory experiences with words for physical states and perception
• Recognize and represent emotions
• Apps for storytelling
• Personal narratives for high functioning ASD

Strategies for Trauma/Maltreatment

• Apply attachment theory to daily conversationsv
• Relationship-based language
• Personal narratives
• Language to decrease disassociation and hyper-vigilance
• Internal state words to build awareness of child and self
• Case study

Strategies for Children at Social Risk

• Increase language interactions in small groups
• Use social-emotional themes: lesson plans
• Internal State Language Intervention
• Program (ISLIP) handout
• Video demonstration of ISLIP lesson plan