The Regulated Child
The Regulated Child
Professional Development Course for Educators
Monday 10th August 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - EDT
6:00pm - 8:00pm - PDT
Tuesday 11th August 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - MDT
Wednesday 12th August 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm - CDT
INDIVIDUAL - $129AUD
TEAM - $599AUD
$129 AUD = $84 USD$116 CAD
$599 AUD = $389 USD$539 CAD
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
Professional Development Course for Educators
Monday 10th August 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - EDT
6:00pm - 8:00pm - PDT
Tuesday 11th August 2026
6:00pm - 8:00pm - MDT
Wednesday 12th August 2025
6:00pm - 8:00pm - CDT
INDIVIDUAL - $129AUD
TEAM - $599AUD
$129 AUD = $84 USD$116 CAD
$599 AUD = $389 USD$539 CAD
Team is for an Individual Early Learning Team
Course Overview
The Regulated Child is a 2-hour online via ZOOM professional development course designed to support educators in understanding children’s behaviour through the lens of attachment, emotional development, co-regulation, and neurodevelopment. Grounded in attachment theory, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory, positive psychology, and relationship-based practice, this course helps educators move beyond behaviour management and toward emotionally responsive teaching.
Educators will explore how relationships, environments, communication, routines, and educator regulation influence children’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and capacity to learn.
MODULE 1: Understanding Regulation in Early Childhood
Learning Focus
Understanding what regulation is, how it develops, and why emotionally safe environments matter.
Topics Covered
MODULE 2: Attachment Theory in Practice
Learning Focus
Exploring attachment theory and how secure relationships support emotional regulation.
Topics Covered
MODULE 3: Erik Erikson and Emotional Development
Learning Focus
Understanding how psychosocial development influences confidence, trust, autonomy, and behaviour.
Topics Covered
MODULE 4: Behaviour as Communication
Learning Focus
Understanding the unmet needs beneath children’s behaviour.
Topics Covered
MODULE 5: Co-Regulation and Educator Presence
Learning Focus
Developing calm, responsive educator practices that support regulation.
Topics Covered
MODULE 6: Positive Behaviour Guidance
Learning Focus
Using respectful and relationship-based behaviour guidance strategies.
Topics Covered
MODULE 7: Environments That Support Regulation
Learning Focus
Creating emotionally safe environments that support calm, connection, and belonging.
Topics Covered
MODULE 8: Supporting Families and Building Partnerships
Learning Focus
Strengthening communication and relationships with families around behaviour and wellbeing.
Topics Covered
MODULE 9: Reflective Practice and Educator Wellbeing
Learning Focus
Supporting sustainable educator practice through reflection, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.
Topics Covered
BONUS MODULE: Real-Life Scenarios and Case Studies
Learning Focus
Applying attachment-informed and regulation-based practices to real-world situations.
Topics Covered
Course Inclusions
The Regulated Child is a 2-hour online via ZOOM professional development course designed to support educators in understanding children’s behaviour through the lens of attachment, emotional development, co-regulation, and neurodevelopment. Grounded in attachment theory, Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory, positive psychology, and relationship-based practice, this course helps educators move beyond behaviour management and toward emotionally responsive teaching.
Educators will explore how relationships, environments, communication, routines, and educator regulation influence children’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and capacity to learn.
MODULE 1: Understanding Regulation in Early Childhood
Learning Focus
Understanding what regulation is, how it develops, and why emotionally safe environments matter.
Topics Covered
- What is emotional regulation?
- Co-regulation vs self-regulation
- Brain development in early childhood
- Stress responses in children
- Why behaviour is communication
- The role of educator relationships
- How regulation develops over time
- Why dysregulation is developmentally normal
- How stress impacts behaviour and learning
- The difference between compliance and emotional safety
- What behaviours challenge me most as an educator?
- How do I currently respond to dysregulation?
- What does emotional safety look like in my environment?
- Creating calming transitions
- Using predictable routines
- Supporting emotional vocabulary
- Slowing down educator responses
MODULE 2: Attachment Theory in Practice
Learning Focus
Exploring attachment theory and how secure relationships support emotional regulation.
Topics Covered
- John Bowlby and attachment theory
- Secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganised attachment
- Attachment behaviours in early childhood settings
- Separation anxiety and transitions
- Relationship-based practice
- How attachment impacts behaviour
- Why connection supports regulation
- How to become a secure base for children
- Ways to strengthen educator-child relationships
- How do children seek connection in my environment?
- Which children may need additional emotional support?
- How can I create greater emotional predictability?
- Emotional attunement
- Warm, responsive communication
- Transition support strategies
- Building trust through consistency
MODULE 3: Erik Erikson and Emotional Development
Learning Focus
Understanding how psychosocial development influences confidence, trust, autonomy, and behaviour.
Topics Covered
- Trust vs mistrust
- Autonomy vs shame and doubt
- Initiative vs guilt
- Emotional safety and identity formation
- The impact of adult responses
- How educator interactions shape self-worth
- Why autonomy matters in behaviour guidance
- How shame impacts confidence and regulation
- How emotional development influences participation
- How do I respond when children make mistakes?
- Do children feel emotionally safe taking risks in my environment?
- How do my words influence children’s self-concept?
- Offering meaningful choices
- Encouraging independence
- Supporting emotional resilience
- Using respectful language
MODULE 4: Behaviour as Communication
Learning Focus
Understanding the unmet needs beneath children’s behaviour.
Topics Covered
- Reframing challenging behaviour
- Sensory needs and regulation
- Emotional triggers in early childhood
- Communication delays and frustration
- The function of behaviour
- How to identify patterns in behaviour
- Why behaviour is rarely random
- How environments influence regulation
- How to respond rather than react
- What might this child be communicating?
- What happens before the behaviour?
- What support does this child need most?
- Observation techniques
- Calm response frameworks
- Sensory support strategies
- Reducing escalation
MODULE 5: Co-Regulation and Educator Presence
Learning Focus
Developing calm, responsive educator practices that support regulation.
Topics Covered
- Co-regulation in practice
- The nervous system and educator energy
- Tone of voice and emotional safety
- Emotional containment
- The power of calm presence
- How educator regulation impacts children
- Why calm connection matters
- How to reduce emotional escalation
- Ways to support children during distress
- How regulated do I feel during difficult moments?
- What triggers stress responses in me?
- How can I create more calm in my practice?
- Grounding techniques
- Co-regulation scripts
- Breathing and pause strategies
- Calm-down spaces and routines
MODULE 6: Positive Behaviour Guidance
Learning Focus
Using respectful and relationship-based behaviour guidance strategies.
Topics Covered
- Positive reinforcement
- Encouragement vs praise
- Limits and boundaries
- Redirection strategies
- Teaching emotional skills
- How to guide behaviour respectfully
- Why connection supports cooperation
- How to encourage intrinsic motivation
- How to teach emotional literacy
- Do my responses focus on punishment or learning?
- How do I reinforce positive behaviours?
- What emotional skills need explicit teaching?
- Positive language shifts
- Visual supports and cues
- Emotional coaching
- Reinforcing effort and persistence
MODULE 7: Environments That Support Regulation
Learning Focus
Creating emotionally safe environments that support calm, connection, and belonging.
Topics Covered
- The environment as the third teacher
- Sensory-friendly environments
- Noise, lighting, and overstimulation
- Calm spaces and quiet zones
- Nature and regulation
- How environments impact behaviour
- How to reduce dysregulation triggers
- Ways to create calm learning spaces
- The connection between wellbeing and environment
- What areas of my environment feel overstimulating?
- Where can children regulate and retreat?
- How can I create greater calm and belonging?
- Decluttering spaces
- Creating regulation stations
- Incorporating nature and sensory experiences
- Designing calm transitions
MODULE 8: Supporting Families and Building Partnerships
Learning Focus
Strengthening communication and relationships with families around behaviour and wellbeing.
Topics Covered
- Family partnerships
- Discussing behaviour respectfully
- Strength-based communication
- Supporting emotional wellbeing together
- Cultural responsiveness
- How to discuss behaviour without judgement
- Ways to build trust with families
- How to communicate strengths and progress
- Strategies for collaborative support
- How do I speak about children with families?
- Do my conversations focus on strengths?
- How can I create stronger partnerships?
- Positive communication frameworks
- Strength-based observations
- Collaborative planning
- Emotional wellbeing check-ins
MODULE 9: Reflective Practice and Educator Wellbeing
Learning Focus
Supporting sustainable educator practice through reflection, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.
Topics Covered
- Reflective practice
- Educator burnout and emotional fatigue
- Compassion fatigue
- Professional identity
- Sustainable wellbeing practices
- Why educator wellbeing matters
- How reflection improves practice
- Ways to support emotional sustainability
- How to reconnect with purpose and joy
- What brings me joy in teaching?
- What drains my emotional energy?
- How can I support my own wellbeing?
- Reflective journaling
- Daily reset practices
- Team wellbeing strategies
- Emotional boundaries and balance
BONUS MODULE: Real-Life Scenarios and Case Studies
Learning Focus
Applying attachment-informed and regulation-based practices to real-world situations.
Topics Covered
- Aggressive behaviour
- Separation anxiety
- Emotional outbursts
- Group time challenges
- Conflict between children
- Emotional withdrawal
- How to analyse behaviour through a regulation lens
- How to respond calmly and effectively
- How to create support plans
- How to build emotionally responsive environments
Course Inclusions
- Online learning modules
- Recording of modules
- Downloadable educator workbook
- Reflection activities
- Practical strategy guides
- Real-life scenarios
- Certificate of completion
About your Facilitator
- Kelly Hallas. Kelly has worked in Early Childhood Education and Care for 27, is a therapist, and wellbeing practitioner with early childhood education knowledge and development, integrating attachment theory, emotional development, and relationship-based practice.
She has a Masters in Counselling, is a Masters in Early Childhood Teaching Candidate, and a Masters in Psychology, Mental Health, and Coaching Candidate. Kelly uses her early childhood and human development knowledge, and experience to support early childhood educators and their teams.
