Rooted & Regulated
Somatic Tools for the Classroom
What Is the Rooted & Regulated Deck?
The Rooted & Regulated deck is a beautifully illustrated set of 50 somatic tools designed for everyday use in classrooms.
Each card offers:
A quick what, when, and how to use the tool
A poetic nature metaphor that deepens understanding
Guidance for the teacher’s regulation and the child’s response
Tools that work in real, messy, beautifully human classrooms
No prep. No guilt. Just grounded support you can hold in your hands.
Why It Works: Nervous System Support in the Classroom
Classrooms are full of nervous systems—not just kids', but teachers' too.
And when stress rises, so do dysregulated behaviours.
Rooted & Regulated brings body-based practices to the classroom that help both students and teachers return to safety, presence, and connection.
We’re working with the nervous system, not against it.
Using principles from Polyvagal Theory, this deck offers tools that:
Help children move from chaos to calm
Give teachers doable, in-the-moment strategies
Create rhythm, safety, and co-regulation in the classroom culture
Somatics in the Classroom: Why Regulation Matters
Co-Regulation is Contagious
When teachers model grounding, connection, and rhythm, students mirror it. These cards help you go first, without adding more to your plate.
Every “tricky” behaviour is a nervous system trying to find safety. These tools address the root—not just the surface behaviour.
Behaviour is Communication
Small Shifts Create Big Change
A two-minute breathing game, a quiet sensory break, or a shared rhythm tool can completely shift the tone of a room.
The Nervous System Forecast
Our internal state is like the weather—it shifts all day long. These cards help name and navigate those shifts.
🌤️
Sunshine
Nervous System State
Regulated (Safe & Social)
What It Looks Like
Engagement, connection, curiosity
🌪️
Stormy
Nervous System State
Dysregulated (Fight/Flight)
What It Looks Like
Running, shouting, tension, frustration
🌫️
Foggy
Nervous System State
Shut Down (Freeze/Collapse)
What It Looks Like
Zoning out, refusal, flatness
These aren’t bad behaviours. They’re weather patterns.
And this deck is your nervous system umbrella, sunhat, and rain boots.
What’s Inside the Deck?
50 Illustrated Cards divided into 5 supportive categories:
Grounding & Safety
Find your feet. Return to the body. Build the base.
Co-Regulation & Connection
Mirror. Match. Repair. Restore trust.
Rhythm Tools
Use clapping, movement, or sound to regulate and transition.
Breath & Sensory Calming
Gentle tools for big feelings. Reset without shame.
Imagination & Storytelling
Creative expression that anchors kids in the present moment.
Each card is:
Written in accessible teacher language
Designed to be used in-the-moment or proactively
Rooted in nervous system theory and trauma-informed practice
Embellished with soft illustrations and grounded metaphors
Who This Deck Is For?
Early years and elementary educators
Educational assistants & school counsellors
Inclusive & neurodiverse classrooms
Homeschooling parents
Day-home providers
Teachers navigating burnout who need their own regulation first
This deck helps you bring regulation with you, not just to them.
Regulation is the foundation. Connection is the culture.
You don’t need a new curriculum.
You don’t need to add one more thing.
You just need a deck that helps you and your students come back to centre - together.
Let’s build it, one card at a time.