Hi there, I’m Beryl Smith

For more than 35 years, I’ve worked as a paediatric Occupational Therapist alongside children, families, educators and therapists across hospitals, schools, clinics and community settings.

Over time, I noticed something important:

Many children were being expected to cope, communicate, learn and behave before their nervous systems had the capacity to do so successfully.

Again and again, I saw adults trying their best,  while feeling overwhelmed, confused or unsure why strategies worked one day and failed the next.

That understanding became the foundation for The Regulation Hourglass™, a practical, regulation-informed framework designed to help adults recognise a child’s current regulation capacity and respond with the right support, at the right time, in the right way.

Today, through courses, resources, supervision and education, I’m passionate about helping regulation science become more practical, accessible and usable in everyday life, not just for therapists, but for the parents, teachers and communities supporting children every day.

When adults understand a child's capacity for regulation, children's behaviour is no longer managed; rather, the child behind the behaviour is seen and understood.

And when children feel understood, participation, connection and growth become possible.