Understanding the ‘Why’ Behind the Behaviour
A practical workshop for parents, carers and professionals using the DIR® model to better understand children's individual developmental needs.
Have you ever wondered why a child reacts strongly to something that seems small, struggles with transitions, becomes overwhelmed in certain environments or finds it difficult to stay engaged?
Understanding the “Why” Behind the Behaviour helps parents, carers and professionals look beyond the behaviour they can see to consider what may be happening underneath.
Using the DIR® model (Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based), the workshop explores how a child's developmental capacities, individual sensory and motor processing differences and relationships can influence regulation, communication, behaviour and participation.
Understanding the “Why”
What looks like refusal, inattention, inflexibility or challenging behaviour may be influenced by sensory processing, emotional regulation, motor planning, communication, developmental capacities, environmental demands or a combination of factors.
Understanding these underlying differences can help us respond to the child's needs rather than simply focusing on changing the behaviour we can see.
Understanding Children Through the DIR® Model
The DIR® model provides a framework for understanding the individual child.
The Developmental component considers a child's Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs), including their capacity for regulation, engagement, connection, back-and-forth communication, shared problem-solving and increasingly complex thinking.
Individual-differences considers the unique ways a child experiences and responds to the world, including sensory processing, regulation and motor planning.
Relationship-based recognises the important role relationships and co-regulation play in helping children feel safe, connected and available for engagement and development.
Together, these areas help us consider why a child may be responding in a particular way and what might help.
What Will You Learn?
Throughout the workshop, Georgina connects DIR® concepts with practical examples to help participants:
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Look beyond behaviour to consider what may be happening underneath
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Understand Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities
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Recognise individual sensory and developmental differences
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Better understand regulation and co-regulation
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Consider how the environment may influence a child's responses
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Support engagement, connection and participation
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Develop practical strategies based on the individual child's needs
The goal is not to provide a set of strategies that should work for every child, but to develop a way of thinking about the individual child that can guide how we respond and provide support.
Who Is the Workshop For?
The workshop is suitable for parents and carers, educators, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and other professionals who support children with developmental differences.
No previous knowledge of DIR® is required.
Whether supporting a child at home, in an educational setting or within a therapeutic relationship, participants will develop a framework for better understanding children's individual needs.
About Georgina Ahrens
The workshop is presented by Georgina Ahrens, Director and Occupational Therapist at Kids World Paediatric Therapy.
Georgina is a DIR®/Floortime Trainer and Profectum Foundation Associate Faculty member with extensive experience supporting children with developmental differences, their families and the professionals who work with them.
Workshop Information & Enquiries
Understanding the “Why” Behind the Behaviour may be offered as a scheduled Kids World workshop or arranged privately for organisations and groups.
This workshop introduces participants to key concepts from the DIR® model. No previous DIR® knowledge is required, and the workshop does not provide DIR® certification.
For information about upcoming workshops or arranging a private workshop, please contact Kids World.
Testimonials
“A very useful workshop for parents and carers that will help you develop strategies to deal with challenging behaviours. I recommend this to all parents.”
MK, Balmain
“Georgina’s workshop provided a great opportunity to reflect on my role as a parent and the importance of understanding what factors may be affecting my children’s behaviour. I now have the understanding and tools to provide the necessary support to my kids – and importantly – to myself.”
JS, Riverview
"I really enjoyed learning about looking beyond my child's behaviour to a much deeper level and understanding why they are behaving a certain way. I now get to connect with my children from a calmer perspective when they are experiencing difficult emotions.
I love Georgina's passion for her work and how much she would like to convey to parents how important it is to see what's going on for our children and ourselves.
Thank you for a great workshop."
CL, Wahroonga