You may have heard the term “co-regulated learning” recently. It’s been popping up in parenting books, blogs, and on social media platforms to describe a style of learning. But how does it differ from other forms of instruction, and more importantly, is it right for your child with learning differences?
Co-regulated learning refers to a situation where two or more people work together to help someone learn a new skill. Commonly it occurs when an older person (teacher, parent, coach, sibling, or mentor) guides a younger person through a novel activity. In this style of learning the older person provides direct instruction, support, encouragement, and feedback with the goal of promoting active engagement of the learner to help them take responsibility for their own learning.
As compared to traditional instruction, the child is working with another person to make decisions, shape their ideas, and remain engaged. It’s a collaborative approach that focuses on building both soft skills and core skills necessary for learning.
How does this differ from collaborative learning?
Co-regulated learning and collaborative learning are similar but not the same. Collaborative learning occurs when people work together in a group to overcome a problem by sharing their knowledge, contributing individual skills, and completing a task. This is different from co-regulated learning in that collaborative learning emphasizes mutual learning and contribution from all. Co-regulated learning is a guided approach to learning, in which one person helps another to manage their learning in a structured way.
Can my child with ADHD or LDs benefit from co-regulated Learning?
Yes! Co-regulated learning provides structure, which helps kids manage attention, stay focused on an activity, and organize and plan an approach to their work—the skills that kids with learning challenges struggle with. Whether classroom teacher or parent, the instructor acts as a real-time executive functions network. They also can provide support and troubleshoot problems the learner may be having because the approach is tailored to the child’s needs. Knowing the child’s unique learning profile enables the instructor to individualize the instruction accordingly.
Should I use co-regulated learning at home?
Definitely! Co-regulated learning is fantastic for parents to use when teaching kids how to do household chores and new routines. It can reduce resistance to everyday tasks because this model encourages children to be involved in decision-making about using the skills they learn. It also provides emotional support by modeling a calm demeanor and helping to re-regulate when faced with adversity.
The goal of co-regulated learning is to set the child up for success so they can one day engage in self-regulated learning, which is independent learning, in which one monitors their progress toward a goal and adjusts as needed to ensure they are reaching that goal.
Dr. Erin Micali is a senior postdoctoral fellow at Sasco River Center in Darien, CT who specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. Her focus areas include neurodevelopmental disorders and early childhood evaluations.