What’s Under Behavior?

Description

This 3-page printable uses a clear volcano analogy to help adults shift from reacting to a child’s “behavior” to recognizing what’s happening underneath it. The visual infographic breaks down five layers that can contribute to a child’s nervous system load: dysregulation, sensory load, unmet needs, communication frustration, and developing skills. Two supporting pages walk through each layer in more depth, including the role of neuroception, how stress can accumulate across a day, and the developmental reason co-regulation matters so much.

Designed with a neuroaffirming lens, this resource reframes “behavior” as a signal from a nervous system that is still developing rather than something to be managed away. It supports adults in moving toward a curiosity-and-compassion approach that meets a child where they are. The content honors that every child’s sensory and communication systems are uniquely coded, that capacity to access skills can fluctuate day to day, and that yesterday’s success doesn’t mean a skill is locked in.

Ideal for occupational therapists, educators, and caregivers who want a visual reference plus supporting text to help them (and the adults around them) better understand what’s happening underneath a child’s outward behavior. Use it as a quick-reference printable in clinic and classroom spaces, share it with parents during sessions, post it in therapy rooms or staff areas, or use the supporting pages as a foundational learning piece for teams and families new to neuroaffirming frameworks.

What’s Included:

• A full-color volcano infographic illustrating the five layers underneath behavior
• A written breakdown of each layer: dysregulation, sensory load, unmet needs, communication frustration, and developing skills
• An explanation of neuroception and how the nervous system scans for safety
• A section on accumulated load and why stress doesn’t reset between events
• A “Deepest WHY” section explaining how co-regulation builds self-regulation
• 3-page printable PDF, ready to print or use digitally

Recommended for use by adults supporting children across all ages, including occupational therapists, educators, parents, and caregivers of neurodivergent children.