EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:

FAMILY

ECE 497
Michelle Roulhac, Fall 2014
November, 2014
Volume 1, Issue 1

Self-Regulation: Early Childhood Stage

Self-Regulation

What is self-regulation, you might ask

yourself? Self-regulation is, in essence,
combining learning activities on an
individualized basis that aid ones learning on
a self-motivated level. Children first learn
through parents and caregivers during the
infancy and early childhood level. Once
children become of age to attend school,
teachers and school faculty become a part of
a childs self-regulated educational
development.
So what happens when children
develop a healthy self-regulation regime?
Behavior becomes more conducive for
a positive learning platform for children on a
self-regulated level, ensuring a balance of
learning accountability for both the child and
teachers. The child has maintained positive
behaviors that allow for maximum learning,
and the teacher can deliver quality lessons
that create a 21st Century lifelong learner.
Learning begins, in the classroom, with
effective self-regulation.

Pre-School Self-Regulation
Children at this level of development
should be encouraged to mimic what adults
are doing in order to fully grasp selfregulation. Showing self-regulation at this
level involves taking turns to perform tasks,
sharing with peers, practicing good hygiene
un-prompted, as well as other kinesthetic
tasks that require concrete thinking.

4 Tips That Work!

Here are some tips that can help your child at
the early childhood level develop adequate
self-regulation.
1.

Early Childhood Development

The stage of early childhood falls
between the ages of 2-5. At this stage in life,
a child is growing exponentially on multiple
levels. In the brain, growth happens at a 2030% increase, a significant rate of growth.
Physically and socially, a child at this level
grows quickly and absorbs as much
environmental stimulus as they can. Children
at this stage of development are very
impressionable.

Practice manners with the child during

various activities at school and at
home. (please, thank you, and may I
please)

2. Foster healthy relationships with peers

by encouraging positive interaction.
(using manners, playing nice, no
roughhousing, etc.)
3. Plan lessons about empathy and being
mindful of others feelings. Planning
lessons around role-playing and doing
to others what you would want to be
done to you are good examples.
4. Be patient! Children at this stage ask
lots of questions; answer them with
love.

Early Childhood Development: Family Edition

Why is Self-Regulation Important?
Children that struggle with selfregulation skills have a hard time with
peer interaction and learning in the
classroom. Not having adequate social
skills that can ensure healthy peer
relationships can stunt a childs social
and mental well-being. In class, a child
that needs constant prompting and
behavioral management cannot possibly
get a quality education from the teacher.
What can be done? Read on for more

Reminders to Parents
Your child is special!
Your child learns through your

Page 2

This Weeks Things To Do!

Monday
Hug the child and let them know how well
they are doing with a task.
Tuesday
Teach the child the word empathy. (Google
some great lesson plan ideas for preschoolers.)
Wednesday
Take the child for a walk and talk about their
day, good decisions and bad decisions. Help
the child reflect on choices.
Thursday
Review empathy with the child and role-play
a skit about it.
Friday
Reinforce positive behavior for the week with
an ice-cream cone and a talk about good
behaviors.

actions!

Be nice to teach nice!

Self-Regulation Remediation
Two behavioral strategies that may help a child
struggling with self-regulation could include
redirection and rewards.

Reminders to Teachers

Praise good behavior and

redirect negative behavior.
Make sure an open line of
communication is maintained
with parents/guardians.
Try to foster intrinsic
motivational skills with the
child (verbal praise, good
grades, star stickers, etc.)

Redirection- if a child is exhibiting negative

behaviors, tell them what they have done wrong.
Explain to them how do correctly perform a task,
show them the right way to do the task, and
then allow them to mimic your behavior. Once
the child correctly performs the task, reward
them with a prize or verbal praise.
Rewards- rewards are a great way to get young
children to perform a task properly. Rewards can
include a movie of their choice, a food item, or
other extrinsic motivators that foster positive
self-regulation development.

Thank You For Your Time!