Research has shown self-regulation to be a better predictor of children’s school achievement than IQ scores, early literacy or early numeracy skills (Blair & Razz, 2007; Bodrova & Leong, 2008).
Self-regulation is comprised of two parts: 1) inhibitory control which is the ability to stop oneself from doing something (like hitting your sister or eating a cookies) and 2) the ability to do something even when one does not feel like doing it (like cleaning up toys or brushing your teeth). Self-regulation is a skill and like all skills, it can be practiced and developed. At home children can practice deliberate and purposeful behaviors such as switching activities and following directions. Practice with games like Simon Says or Follow the Leader and switch the rules or the leader halfway through. Have your child leave the room and move a few objects around. When they come back, have them tell you what changed. This helps them practice focusing and monitoring skills. Children need to practice following rules and talking about how those rules change across a variety of settings (like burping in a fancy restaurant vs. a burping contest with a friend). Children need to practice following three different types of rules: 1) Following rules set by someone else 2) Setting and monitoring their own rules with others (ex: during a board game or making up a game at the park) 3) Applying rules to themselves without being monitored (ex: finishing a chore before playing) Offer reminders about self-regulation. You can use a visual schedule or checklist for morning or bed time routine or have your child wear a “Super Rule Follower” cape during games that are particularly challenging or frustrating for them. Play! Play! Play! Young children learn best through play and exploration. They learn to share, negotiate, compromise, problem solve, tell stories, communicate, how to think about others’ perspectives and more. Make sure your child has the opportunity to explore toys, puzzles, books, dress up outfits, and even cardboard boxes! Give them opportunities to play and interact with other children whenever possible.
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AuthorMiss Nicole is the Social Worker for the Early Childhood Program in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Categories
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May 2020
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