The Alert Program — How Does Your Engine Run?

The Alert Program — How Does Your Engine Run?

Have you ever noticed that some days your child seems to be “bouncing off the walls,” while other days they appear tired, distracted, or difficult to motivate? Perhaps getting ready for school is a struggle, homework ends in frustration, or bedtime feels impossible.

These behaviours are often not about a child choosing to misbehave — they are signs that their nervous system may be struggling to find the “just right” level of alertness.

One of the most widely used approaches in Occupational Therapy to help children understand and manage their level of alertness is the Alert Program, also known as “How Does Your Engine Run?”

What Is the Alert Program?

The Alert Program, developed by Occupational Therapists Mary Sue Williams and Sherry Shellenberger, is a practical, child-friendly approach that teaches children to recognise how their bodies feel and discover strategies that help them reach their optimal level of alertness.

Rather than focusing on behaviour alone, the programme helps children understand what is happening inside their bodies and gives them tools to regulate themselves.

The programme uses the simple analogy of an engine. Just like a car engine, our bodies and brains can run at different speeds throughout the day.

Understanding Your “Engine”

Children learn to recognise three different engine speeds.

Engine Running Too High A child whose engine is running too high may appear: Overexcited Constantly moving Fidgety Loud Impulsive Easily frustrated Finding it difficult to concentrate Emotionally reactive Their nervous system is working at a faster pace than the situation requires.

Engine Running Too Low A child with a low engine may seem: Sleepy Sluggish Daydreamy Slow to respond Unmotivated Easily distracted Low in energy Their body may need more input to become alert and engaged.

Engine Running “Just Right” The goal is not for children to be quiet all the time — it is to help them find the engine speed that matches the activity they are doing. For example: Sitting in class requires a calmer engine Playing soccer requires a faster engine Reading a book needs focused attention Bedtime requires the engine to slow down

Learning to adjust between these different states is an essential life skill.

Regulation Is Different for Everyone

One of the most important messages of the Alert Program is that every child’s nervous system is unique.

The same strategy will not work for every child.

Some children need movement before they can sit still. Others need quiet and reduced stimulation before they can focus. The programme encourages children to become “engine detectives,” discovering which strategies help their own bodies.

The Role of Sensory Processing

Our nervous system constantly receives information from our senses, including touch, movement, body awareness, vision, hearing, smell, and taste. These sensory experiences influence how alert or calm we feel.

Occupational Therapists use the Alert Program alongside an understanding of sensory processing to help children recognise which sensory experiences:

• ✓Wake their engine up
• ✓Slow their engine down
• ✓Keep it running “just right”

Over time, children begin to understand that they have choices and strategies that can help them regulate.

What Strategies Might Help?

Every child develops their own personalised “toolbox” of regulation strategies. These may include:

Movement Jumping Climbing Animal walks Dancing Obstacle courses

Calming Strategies Deep breathing Reading Gentle rocking Listening to calming music Cuddling Mindfulness

The key is finding the strategies that work best for your child’s unique nervous system.

The Occupational Therapy Perspective

Occupational Therapists use the Alert Program because it focuses on understanding rather than controlling behaviour.

Instead of asking: “Why won’t this child behave?”
We ask: “What does this child’s nervous system need right now?”

By helping children recognise their body signals and identify helpful strategies, we are supporting the development of lifelong self-regulation skills. This allows children to participate more successfully in their everyday occupations.

How Parents Can Support Regulation

The Alert Program works best when it becomes part of everyday family life. You can begin by using simple language such as:

• ✓“How is your engine feeling today?”
• ✓“Does your engine need to speed up or slow down?”
• ✓“What could help your engine feel just right?”

This shifts the conversation away from blame and towards problem-solving.

Regulation Is a Skill, Not a Behaviour

Self-regulation is something children learn over many years through repeated experiences of co-regulation, guidance, and practice. It is not a skill that develops overnight, nor is it a sign of good or bad behaviour.

The Alert Program empowers children by helping them understand their bodies, recognise their own needs, and build confidence in managing everyday challenges.

As Occupational Therapists, our goal is not simply to help children “behave better.” It is to help them understand themselves, participate successfully in meaningful daily activities, and develop the lifelong skills needed to learn, play, connect with others, and thrive.

When children understand how their “engine” works, they are better equipped to recognise when something feels out of balance — and, most importantly, they begin to discover that they have the tools to help get it back to “just right.”