Young children in preschool are in a brilliant stage of rapid brain development. These quick changes pave the way for the growth of self-regulation skills. Working on self-regulation skills in preschool is an investment for the student in the long run since self-regulation is proven to lead to success in later stages. A child's ability to self-regulate is an indicator of many things down the road, like fewer behavioral difficulties, better performance in school, and better relationships with those around them.
Self-regulation is how we manage our thoughts and feelings to allow for goal-directed actions. Self-regulation looks like finding ways to cope with strong feelings and, in turn, not feeling overwhelmed by emotion. It also looks like practicing focus, the ability to shift attention, and successfully managing behaviors required to work well with others and move in the direction of our goals.
Read more: Teaching Self-Regulation to Preschoolers