SELF- REGULATION: Ideas to
Guide Early Practice
Renita Williams Thomas, BSN, RN
Early Childhood Supports and Services
State Project Director
Goals of Workshop:
Participants will be able to:
Define self regulation
Will be able to identify milestones in self
regulation at various ages
Will understand the influence of regulatory
abilities for later social emotional, motor, self
help, and attention skills.
Will understand how the construct of self
regulation can be applied to parenting
Will be acquainted with some disorders of
regulation
Definition of self regulation
Increasing independence in the
management of:
Homeostasis
States
Emotions
Behavior
Attention
Defining Self Regulation
Regulatory tasks include:
Physiological indicators- temperature and
sleep
Emotional indicators- state regulation,
deliberate control of behavior
Cognitive indicators- deliberate attention,
persistence in problem solving
Recognizing Self Regulation
As development proceeds, regulatory
development is recognized as a gradual
shift from dependence to independence.
Milestones in self regulation
at various stages of
development
WHAT ARE MILESTONES?
Milestones are developmental factors
that represent regulatory progress as
well as the foundation for further self
regulation.
Nature and nurture are evidenced
Exercise:
For each of the following age ranges think about
how the child manages states, emotions and
behavior. Think about deliberate versus reflexive
control. How is language useful? Think about the
degree of adult control needed for behavior
control and regulation of attention. How about the
brain?:
Newborn,
Infant,
Toddler and
pre-School/Kindergartener
Milestones: Newborns
(Birth to 4 months)
Physiological milestones- temperature
control, nursing
Beginnings of state control (recovery from
stress, self soothing)
Habituation and more organized response
to stimuli
“Primitive” interactive abilities
Rudimentary awareness of cause and effect
Milestones: Infants
(4 months to 12 months)
Milestones:
Regulation of sleep-wake cycles
Responsive interaction with caregivers
Responsiveness to routines
Dawning of voluntary efforts to control motor
responses
Cause and effect
Reference: M. Bronson (2000)
Milestones: Toddlers
(12 months to 3 Years)
Milestones in emotional and Behavior
development
Conscious control of behavior developing- increasing
restraint or impulse control-
Compliance ability is advancing
Language and symbolic thinking and planning
Increased drive for independence
Pays attention to “models”
Reference: Bronson
Milestones: Preschoolers
More capable of managing emotions and self control
Understanding of rules firmly developed
Can use language to regulate behavior
Beginning to understand reciprocity
Empathy at a higher level of development
Internalization of standards of behavior
Bronson (2000)
Milestones: preschoolers
Voluntary Control: Preschoolers begin to
understand the distinction between
emotions and behavior. They can choose
how to express their strong emotions.
Milestones in brain development
and self regulation of emotion and
behavior
Overview of brain development
Neural connections
Mylination
Development of frontal lobes
Pathways between the frontal lobes and the
limbic system
Supporting Emotion Regulation in
Children
Role of caregivers-
See handout “self regulation applied
in parenting intervention”
EXERCISE:
Given what we know about the
development of self regulation, what do
children need at various ages to fulfill their
potential for control of emotion, behavior,
and attention?
Promoting Emotion Regulation in Infants-
Role of caregivers*
Sensitivity and Responsiveness to infant cues and
signals
Sensitivity and responsiveness to infant
temperament (regularity, stimulation, novelty etc)
Predictable caregiving
*The environment is especially important in the very
early development of self regulation
Promoting Emotion Regulation in
Infants
Role of the environment
At least one consistent caregiver
Predictable routines and response to infant
distress/discomfort-
Later sensitively deferred response to infant
distress (raising the bar)
Daily routine includes periods of interaction
and rest.
Bronson, 2000 and Greenspan, 1999
Promoting Self Regulation in
Toddlers
Avoid coercive strategies- instead emphasize
choices and inner control
Routines and patterns
Set up environment for mastery- kid proof,
sensory materials, positive direction, cause and
effect, appropriate levels of freedom and restraint
(LIMITS)
Scaffolding
Help children work through their own scuffles
Promoting Self Regulation in
Pre-School Children
Adults can model social-emotional control
Encourage children to use language to guide
action
Support developing inner controls- talk about it
Tell children the why behind the rule
Expect children to take an active part in solving
disputes with peers
Help children learn about emotions through play,
songs and art
Discipline and self regulation
See: Emotion regulation Parenting
Discussion
Regulation and parenting- Central
elements
Understand developmental milestones
Focus on child’s temperament
Discipline is teaching (avoid coercive or
punishment based strategies
Regulation involves increasing child’s
independence
Central strategies
Help child become cognitively aware of
emotions and acceptable ways to express
them (help them learn their triggers)
Set limits and explain why behind the rule
Provide choices and remind child that you
expect him to learn self control
Praise more than punish
The connection between self
regulation and emotional
wellbeing
How is self regulation related to
emotional development?
Attachment
Becoming independent (mastery over body
and behavior)
Self awareness
Social skill
School success
Self Regulation and Emotional
Development
According to Greenspan’s Playground
Politics, self regulation is a primary
milestone that must be mastered before
kindergarten for emotional and intellectual
well being.
Disorders of regulation
Regulatory challenges in typical
infants
Regulatory challenges in typical
infants
Fussiness
Sleep difficulties
“Spirited” behavior
Intervention
Focus of Intervention
Parent support- most important!
Increase parent knowledge of self regulation
and child development in general.
Increase parent’s understanding of their
baby’s behavior style or temperament
Help parents help their baby practice
regulatory skills (self soothing)- increase
touch, consistency, sensitivity.
