Greetings PedsProVT Community,
As we step into the year 2026, this felt like the perfect moment to focus this quarters newsletter on self-regulation. During this busy stretch of the school year, the pace often picks up—deadlines for IEP’s and evaluations are coming up, student needs increase, and our own energy can feel stretched thin. It is important as individuals to practice our own self regulation strategies/self care to help us stay centered, grounded, and nourished while continuing to support students effectively.
This time of year—during the winter months and holiday season—we often see an increase in students’ regulation needs. Changes in routine, reduced daylight, holiday excitement, and general fatigue can all impact how students show up at school. You may notice some students craving more movement, deep pressure, or sensory input to stay organized and focused. On the other hand, students who appear more lethargic or withdrawn may be signaling a need for more alerting sensory input to help them engage.
Understanding these seasonal shifts in regulation can help us respond and provide the right supports to keep students grounded, connected, and ready to learn. Below are some resources gathered from the Inspired Tree House and Kelly Mahler to consider incorporating into your daily practice supporting a variety of students regulation needs within the classroom.
Regulation Ideas for the classroom:
Building interoception awareness:
Our goal as therapists is to help teach our students to notice and understand how their body feels and begin to teach that body emotion connection. https://youtu.be/RpYHoMO24F8?si=p36TLR_PNPyAPojk
The website SCRED Life Skills has free resources to create Gif Mood Meters with your students. This is a fantastic tool for incorporating students’ interests and high-preference themes into lessons on the mind–body–emotion connection.
Upcoming Events/Trainings:
- Save the Date: Vermont Disability Rights day at the state house has been scheduled for February 11th. Vermont Center for Independent Living and Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights are partnering to host an information day in the card room at the state house of March 11th. VOTA will have a table, and we would love to have more OTPs join us!
- Want to learn more about Assistive Technology but unable to attend the ATIA Conference in January in-person https://s3.goeshow.com/atia/orlando/2026/attendee_registration.cfm (registration link if you’re ready for a break from VT winter and want an escape to Orlando)…ATIA is offering ATIA 2026 Virtual Event January 29-January 31, 2026. There are also some free virtual sessions as well. Link to register: https://www.atia.org/virtual-event/
*Please share with the families you work with
1. Empower Therapy: Early Communication Family Workshop
Join a virtual event hosted by Empower Therapy and The Children’s Room of Waterbury! We will discuss early childhood communication development centered around little humans ages birth to 5 years! 45 minute discussion followed by 15mins Q & A and an opportunity to sign up for FREE early speech/language screenings! This offer will be valid through December 15 2025.
- Local Vermont made fidgets: https://www.etsy.com/shop/reachnfinity?ref=shop_profile&listing_id=1817319811
- There is a company called Reach’nfinity and they have an Etsy shop for fidgets and weighted stuffed bunnies. Most of the materials are upcycled and the owner identifies as Autistic on the bio in the Etsy account Etsy@reachnfinity