What is Self - Regulation?
Self - regulation, as defined by Andrea bell is “control (of oneself) by oneself”. (GoodTherapy.org, 2016). Being a valuable ability, in self regulation, people can utilize it to manage specific emotional responses and bodily actions under distress. Furthermore, it enables people to maintain their attention to the task and concentrate under difficult circumstances. (Felton, 2022)
Self-regulation isn’t innate and takes time, practice, and guidance to develop. Some people struggle with it because they can't figure out what makes them feel less stressed. Some people may have trouble when their routine is disturbed. A lot of these disturbances might cause angry outbursts. (Felton, 2022).
Why Is It Important?
Self-control abilities promote children's academic, social, and emotional development by laying strong foundations. They can assist us:
- to identify triggers, recognize stressors, respond to them, and develop suitable coping mechanisms.
- to regulate our impulses and adjust to change, which ultimately enables us to communicate with others in a suitable manner.
- possessing executive function abilities, which enable us to concentrate, obey to directions, and finish tasks; they are essential life skills that support future academic achievement and help them reach their full potential. (Asquith, 2024)
Factors Affecting Self - Regulation In Children
Internal Factors
➢ Personality
➢ Executive Functions
➢ Brain Development
➢ Cognitive Development
➢ Genetics
External Factors
➢ Parenting Practices
➢ Socio - Economic Status
➢ Environmental Factors
➢ Childcare and School
➢ Social Interactions
➢ Screen time
➢ Cultural Background
➢ Mental Health Conditions
6 Effective Ways to Teach Self - Regulation to Children
Look at the list below to effectively teach children ways to self - regulate themselves in various ways. (Cuncic, 2023) (Ackerman, 2018) (Rouse, 2016) (Positive Action Staff, 2023) (Team Kindship, 2024)
Establish Routines and Structure :
(a) Daily schedule - A fixed schedule helps kids know what to expect and feel safe
(b) Clear expectations - Use simple words to tell them what is expected
(c) Transition - Give reminders before switching activities using visual cards, timers, or firm instructions
Model Self - Regulation
(a) Calm responses - Children watch and learn from adults, so handle stress calmly
(b) Emotional awareness - Talk about your emotions and how you deal with them in a positive way
Teach Emotional Vocabulary And Skills
(a) Identify emotions - Help children understand and name the emotions
(b) Modeling language - Teach them to share their emotions and feelings
(c) Coping strategies - Introduce them to coping strategies like deep breathing, counting to ten, using ‘I’ statements
Encourage Prosocial Behaviors
(a) Positive reinforcement - Appreciate the good behaviors / performances of the children
(b) Role - playing - Involve them in acting out various situations to teach them to stay calm and handle the problems
(c) Games - Play games involving self control and impulse control like Simon says, traffic light
(d) Kindness - Promote behaviors of caring, sharing, and listening
Create a Supportive Environment
(a) Safe space - Create a safe space for them where they can calm themselves down
(b) Open communication - Listen to their feelings with open ears and without any judgement
(c)Patience and understanding - Stay calm and encourage them in their learning
Specific Strategies
(a) Breathing exercises - Teach easy breathing exercises to help them relax
(b) Movement breaks - Give short moving around breaks to help them focus better
(c) Task cards - Use cards to guide them in learning and self control
(d) Zones of regulations - Introduce an orient them to 4 feelings and action zones e. Self control flashcards - Use various behavioral flashcards to practise self control.
Conclusion
Self-regulation is an essential ability that aids kids to regulate their feelings, actions, and reactions to different circumstances. Structured routines, modeling language, prosocial behavior, and a supportive environment can all greatly facilitate the process, even though it takes time to develop. Children can progressively learn how to manage stress, adjust to change, and engage in constructive social interactions by using particular techniques including breathing exercises, movement breaks, and self-control tools. In addition to enhancing their social and intellectual abilities, teaching self-regulation builds the groundwork for their success and emotional resilience throughout their lives.
"Until we teach our kids to self-regulate, we will be stuck trying to reason with their unreasonable brain, which will only leave everyone stuck in the cycle of conflict" - Bill Crawford (Crawford, 2020)
References
Ackerman, C. (2018, July 3). What is self-regulation? (+95 skills and strategies). PositivePsychology.com.