Children often have difficulty with self-regulation. During this group, children are taught that they can change their inner state of alertness and learn self-calming strategies. This self-empowering program combines movement, sensory-motor activities, adult modeling, peer interaction and parent education to enable children to achieve an inner sense of feeling "just right." This group is based on the concepts of the "How Does Your Engine Run" program originated by Mary Sue Williams, OTR and Sherry Shellenberger, OTR.

Groups will focus on:

1. Learning to identify varying states of alertness using the metaphor "If your body is like a car engine, it can run high, low or just right."
2. Developing an awareness of one’s own inner state of alertness.
3. Experimenting with sensory motor activities and learn how they affect one’s level of alertness or "engine speed."
4. Identifying sensory-motor preferences.
5. Learning to change "engine speeds" using sensory-motor strategies.