Building interoception and self-regulation skills
Help students notice their body cues and manage emotions to feel calm, confident and ready to engage in learning.
Interoception is the ability to notice internal body cues such as changes in heartbeat, breathing or muscle tension. These cues can be indicators for feelings such as hunger, anxiety, excitement or tiredness. Sometimes students can find it hard to tune into their bodies and self-regulate before feelings become overwhelming.
Educators can support students with strategies and activities that build self-regulation, promote wellbeing, and help students feel calmer, more confident and ready to engage in learning.
On this page, you will find resources designed to help primary and secondary educators understand how interoception and self-regulation impact student wellbeing, as well as practical activities and tools for classroom use and beyond. All resources are curriculum-aligned and support the principles of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
Looking to promote student-led learning? Check out our student topic pages, where students can filter by year level to explore age-appropriate wellbeing information and resources independently.
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Discover resources for the classroom
Explore the following resources for in-classroom strategies and support.
Get ready to learn
This resource is designed to help children and young people feel more connected to their bodies, and to interpret and express their emotions helpfully.
Brain break bops
Short animated videos featuring an interoception movement, plus other fun dance moves and memorable song lyrics.
Mindfulness and Calming Activities
This PDF contains a collection of easy to implement activities designed to support the wellbeing of students.
Understanding emotions: Years 7-9 lesson plan
A lesson plan to help students practice skills of emotional awareness and self-regulation.
Emotions games
Use these fun printable games to help preschool and early primary school students build their emotional vocabulary.
Foster a whole-school approach
Explore the following resources to find strategies, policies and research relevant to the wider school environment.
Interoception and self-regulation
This free online course is suitable for primary and secondary educators with an interest in supporting children and young people with emotional self-regulation, mental health and wellbeing, and social and emotional skills.
Assess your classroom environment
This interactive tool recommends simple changes which can make your classroom a more inclusive space.
Engage with parents, carers and community
Share and discuss the following resources with parents and carers in your school community.
Deepen your understanding
Gain insights and deepen your understanding of this topic with research and professional learning opportunities.
Supporting self-regulation skills in the classroom: Webinar recording
This webinar explores how building interoception skills can help children and young people to self-regulate their emotions and feelings, be calm and engage with learning, have positive wellbeing, and improve their academic performance.
What is interoception?
Interoception or 'mindful body awareness' is thought to be a prerequisite for self-regulation. In this video, educator and researcher, Dr Emma Goodall introduces the concept.
Survival mode: Video
Dr Goodall unpacks 'survival mode' and why it can cause some children and young people may lash out.
Hand model of the brain: Video
In this video, Dr Goodall uses Siegel’s (2010) hand model of the brain to explain how escalating emotions can make it difficult to self-regulate.
Prompt a discussion
Spark staff discussion and reflection with these practical questions aligned to the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework.
How can we help students notice body signals to self-regulate their energy, focus and stress while in class?
Can morning routines, school bells or break times be utilised differently to build students’ interoception and self-regulation skills during transitions?
Which parent workshops, newsletters or online resources could help families reinforce interoception and self-regulation alongside existing school programs?
How can research-informed PD inform the design of self-regulation activities that support diverse neurotypes and developmental needs across year levels?
Discover ways to use the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework in your school.
Related topics
Taking a whole-student approach to physical health
