Understanding Regulation: A Nervous System Perspective

To understand why co-regulation is foundational, it is helpful to briefly consider how regulation works in the body.

Regulation is not just about behaviour. It is about the nervous system.

When a child is overwhelmed, their body may shift into:

• A heightened state (fight or flight): agitation, crying, aggression

• A shutdown state (freeze): withdrawal, silence, disengagement

In these states, the brain is not in a position to:

• process language

• follow instructions

• access learned coping strategies

This is why telling a dysregulated child to “calm down” or “use your words” often does not work.

The child is not choosing to be unregulated. Their nervous system is responding to perceived stress.

Co-regulation helps bring the nervous system back to a state where thinking, learning, and responding become possible again.

If you’d like to get in touch with Saamarthya Foundation, you can call us on - +919049860477

Join the Saamarthya Foundation WhatsApp group for updates and resources - 

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LGpQx9kz0PG0EnCsZheam1

Saamarthya Foundation

Family Resource Centre Pune

Row House 1, Next to Meghmalhar Bungalow, Pancard Club Road, Baner