Independently engages: does not need assistance or support to engage in an activity or interaction.

Reluctant to engage: having misgivings or shyness, anxiety, other phobias that can make interaction or certain activities difficult to engage in. Or in other words is hesitant to invest time or energy in something. Something is holding them back. Both terms can be used to describe relational dynamics.

Self regulation refers to a persons ability to control ones actions, thoughts and feelings, with or without support. It is a skill set that develops at differing rates and stages for children and adults. We see this terminology in reference to neuro and mental health assessments, across the spectrum and other co-occurring mental health disorders.

This all being said, it's difficult to say precisely what the meaning is referring to without context. Hope this helps.

@A MyAutismTeam Member, when my son was your age and not yet talking, but super hyper and sensory seeking, I got this book called "The Hanen Method", which is a manual to help you child learn how to communicate using his own needs/interests as prompts. Later I found out that that is the method used by speech and language therapists (which our NHS therapist used as an excuse to close my son's file without ever giving any therapy, because "she couldn't do any more than what we were already doing at home"!!!!).
Anyway, it's worth a try, this manual is very easy to read and very practical and it worked for my son. It was only a start, mind, but at least we were able to communicate a bit more and he learned that his mum is not a mind reader! Well, not all of the time, anyway...

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A MyAutis...

Brilliant ideas @A MyAutismTeam Member we just bought our niece and nephew spinners why on earth didnt I try my kiddo with 1!? Lol. Next time eh! X

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A MyAutis...

@A MyAutismTeam Member
Yes that's exactly what I needed! Thank you.
My son lacks self regulation skills now, working on these are a big one for us. Hes reluctant to do anything that isnt filling a "need" he has sensory wise hes Very in his own moment in his own world and we are 'interfering' with his need satisfaction when we try to engage with him.
A very very good speech therapist an older woman told us our son was one of the most sensory seeking children she ever met, she was astounded by his 'over stimulation' to basic acts like a light on or off or him lying on his back eating a biscuit making the biggest satisfactory noises whilst the free hand twiddled his hair!
Our hand are full but this is our boy, our unique son weve been lucky enough to have him. Xx

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A MyAutis...

I'd go with what DawnaD said. That's how I'd interpret it.