THE PAUSE/PAWS™ FRAMEWORK
From Reaction to Reflection:
A Framework for Emotional Development and Decision-Making (EDDM)
A Call to Leaders, Educators, and Caregivers
Before we ask learners to regulate, we must first give them the space—and the tools—to develop.
Too often, “emotional regulation” is treated as a way to control behaviour, to avoid conflict, punishment, or disruption.
But when we move beyond behaviour and look deeper, we begin to see the flaw in this approach:
Regulation without development is still rooted in compliance — not understanding.
That’s why I challenge leaders to PAUSE and consider what’s missing.
We need to reframe our lens—not just to help children behave, but to help them belong, be heard, and build the inner tools that grow with them. All children "behave"
The question is: what is that behaviour teaching us?
When we PAUSE long enough to understand, we learn how to support students beyond the behaviour.
What Is PAWS™
And How Is It Different?
For younger children or learners with diverse communication needs, PAWS™ introduces these steps using visuals, relational and developmentally-appropriate language.
Why Emotional Development—
Not Just Regulation?
The word “regulate” means to control, supervise, or direct behaviour according to a rule, and while regulation has value, we must ask:
Are we regulating for understanding
Or to prevent consequences?
When we only regulate to stop something from happening, we stop other things from happening too:
🐾 Insight
🐾 Growth
🐾 Ownership
🐾 Connection
Emotional development shifts the focus and helps us:
🐾 Understand the why behind behaviour
🐾 Build internal tools for long-term resilience
🐾 Shift from fear-based compliance to thoughtful decision-making
🐾 Foster self-trust, not just self-control
Who It’s For
This framework is designed for:
🐾 Learners with big emotions, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, ADHD, or executive function challenges
🐾 Educators seeking inclusive, culturally responsive strategies
🐾 Parents and caregivers ready to shift from punishment to partnership
🐾 Educational institutions building emotionally intelligent environments
The PAUSE/PAWS™ Framework is adaptable for:
🐾 Visual and tactile learning styles
🐾 Individual and group-based use
🐾 Non-verbal or limited-verbal communication
