ARF Resources
Low cost. Clear moves. Dignity intact.
Currere Exchange Presentation
View-only PDF copy of Currere in the Field.
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▸ How to Use This
- Read the situation before acting.
- Make one move only.
- Check what changed.
- Reset before the next move.
If you are adding more, you are likely increasing cost.
▸ When Not to Act
- If you are unsure what is happening, keep reading.
- If your body is tense or reactive, do not act.
- If the move will increase pressure or confusion, wait.
No alignment — no action.
▸ If It Doesn’t Work
- Do not repeat the move.
- Do not escalate.
- Re-read the situation.
- Try a smaller, lower-cost move.
If it didn’t work, something was misread — not resisted.
▸ When Things Start Getting Worse
- If you are talking more, reduce words.
- If things take longer, remove steps.
- If resistance increases, lower cost.
If it feels heavier, something unnecessary has been added.
▸ For Educators
▸ Intent
Lower cost first. Protect dignity. Use the smallest reversible move. Make the next step obvious. Help counts as engagement.
▸ Quick Wins
- Start at 50% of the task, not 100%.
- Stand beside before you speak.
- Offer two choices, not repeated instructions.
- Mark re-entry immediately.
▸ Core Routines
▸ Holding Pattern
Maintain connection without adding pressure. Movement remains possible. Re-entry stays cheaper than staying out.
▸ Conflict Reset
Hear both sides → name choices → confirm relationship → prompt one next move.
▸ Transition Staging
Position timing, bodies, and cues so the transition is already solved before it is called.
▸ Watch For
- Voice rising with no increase in movement
- Instructions repeated without change in conditions
- One adult carrying the entire load
- Compliance paired with shutdown
▸ For Parents
▸ Intent
Warmth before demands. Lower cost. Offer small choices. Share the finish. Help is success.
▸ Quick Wins
- Reduce friction before repeating yourself.
- Offer two clear choices, not open-ended demands.
- Name the finish line before starting.
▸ Core Moves
▸ Make the Ask Cheaper
Movement begins when cost drops.
▸ Lower Pressure, Maintain Connection
Pressure produces movement. Connection determines whether it lasts.
▸ Co-Author the Finish
Shared ownership reduces resistance.
▸ Watch For
- Power struggles that repeat without resolution
- Escalation loops between adult and child
- Instructions followed by resistance cycles
▸ For Administrators & Systems
▸ Core Rule
Behaviour follows cost. If success is expensive, the system is forcing compliance.
▸ System Moves
▸ Engineer Conditions
Make the right move cheaper than the wrong one.
▸ Track Cost
If someone is burning out, cost is misplaced.
▸ Read Reality
If it only works when a specific person is present, it does not work.
▸ Quick Scenarios
▸ Entry & Transition
▸ Morning Soft Start
Lower cost at the doorway → movement becomes natural.
▸ Lights Transition
Stage first → cue second.
▸ Task Initiation
▸ Five-Minute Anchor
Start small → secure movement → offer continuation.
▸ Screen Bridge
Finish → bridge → next step is clear.
▸ Regulation
▸ Noise Peak Plan
Pre-plan exits → enable a clean return.
▸ Turn-Taking Tokens
Make fairness visible.
▸ Failure Conditions
- If effort increases but movement does not, stop and change conditions.
- If success depends on one specific adult, the system is unstable.
- If compliance replaces engagement, cost is being hidden.
- If escalation repeats, the loop is unresolved.
Action: Reduce cost → re-read the field → re-enter with a smaller move.