The Science of Self-Reg in a World That Needs Us More Than Ever
Dr. Stuart Shanker has spent his decades showing us that Self-Reg is not just about managing stress—it’s about transforming how we understand and respond to it. And right now, that understanding has never been more urgent.
Stress is everywhere—in our schools, our homes, our communities, and even within our closest relationships. Wars rage. Political divisions deepen. The cost of living is crushing families. Climate anxiety is real, and disaster headlines never stop. Social media fuels outrage, and the people we love are caught in cycles of fear and reactivity. Early childhood centers and schools are overwhelmed, healthcare systems are breaking, and children—our children—are absorbing all of it.
For parents, early childhood educators, teachers, school and community leaders, and anyone who cares about the world children and youth are growing up in, this moment is relentless. And yet, the harder things get, the more we are called upon to show up—to be the steady presence for young people growing up in the midst of this chaos. But here’s the truth: we cannot co-regulate if we are dysregulated ourselves.
And it’s not just the stress in our classrooms and homes—it’s the stress between us. The neighbour whose views make us tense up. The family dinner that turns into a battle of beliefs. The people in our lives who seem impossible to reach. The exhaustion of witnessing injustice, of worrying about those who are suffering, of feeling powerless to create change.
How do we stay in relationships with those we don’t agree with? How do we hold space for difficult emotions—ours and others’—without being consumed by them?
How do we break cycles of stress instead of feeding them?
Every one of us has a sphere of influence. Maybe it’s our child, a small group of children, a classroom, a school, a community, our colleagues, or our family. Wherever we can shine a light—with soft eyes, with understanding, with the science of Self-Reg—we can help. We can co-regulate. We can make a difference.
Self-Reg isn’t just for experts or those in leadership roles. It’s for anyone who wants to better understand stress—our own and others’—so we can respond with clarity instead of reactivity, with connection instead of frustration. It’s for parents who want fewer battles at bedtime. For early childhood educators who want to help little ones navigate big feelings. For teachers who want to bring more calm into their classrooms. For school and community leaders who want to create environments where everyone feels safe and supported.
SRSS 2025: A Place to Reignite, Restore & Rise
Join Us at our 11th Annual Self-Reg Summer Symposium (SRSS) July 7-10, 2025
Set against the beautiful backdrop of Trent University, SRSS 2025 is more than a learning event—it’s an opportunity to recharge. The river, woods, and fresh air offer a chance to unplug, reset, and reconnect with what matters.
This year’s symposium includes:
- Dr. Stuart Shanker’s only in-person talk of the year
- Workshops, discussions, and hands-on Self-Reg strategies for teachers, parents, early childhood educators, and school and community leaders
- Like-hearted educators, parents, and leaders from across Canada and beyond
We can make a difference. We are the difference. But only if we restore ourselves first—so we can lead, teach, parent, and co-regulate with energy, clarity, and purpose.
Because when we restore, we rise. And when we rise, so do our children, our families, and our communities.
