1. Self Regulation In
Early Childhood

2. Self Regulation What is it?
The ability to internally control one’s emotions and behaviors.
Infants born with no self regulating behaviors
Toddlers focus on compliance and self control
Pre-school children start learning delayed gratification

3. The Problem Academics being pushed down into preschool programs
Children are failing to achieve. Why?
Programs not focusing on social-emotional competency of children
Short term success of skill and drill not translating into academic achievement later in school career.
This is due to a lack of self-regulation.
The effects of self-regulation on academic success is far reaching.

4. Importance of Building Blocks for School Readiness
Teachers stress that children must acquire self regulation skills before academic learning can take place.
Academic Skills
Self Regulation
Self Care
Importance of Building Blocks for School Readiness
Source: Teacher Survey on Importance of Readiness Skills (2008) School Readiness in Santa Clara County

5. Why is it important?
Social Standpoint: getting along with peers as well as authority figures.
Four year old children who could delay gratification were more likely to follow teacher direction at six.

6. Why is it important?
Academic Standpoint: As children become more thoughtful and controlled, their learning becomes more efficient.
Students that showed delayed gratification at four scored 210 points higher on the SAT than those who chose instant gratification.
Delayed Gratification

7. Children need to internalize rules for behaviors before they can transfer them to other settings.
Must practice in three contexts
Adult regulated rules
Regulating other children
Applying rules to themselves
Self regulation development

8. Child made rules contribute to self regulating behaviors.
No yelling or screaming.
Child made rules
No laying down.

9. Research Question
When children are allowed to self regulate by participating in the making of classroom rules, are they less dependent on the teacher in solving conflicts among themselves?

10. Significance
Due to the far reaching effects of self regulation on the academic achievement of children, it is vitally important that it is supported in our early childhood classrooms.

11. Conclusion
Self-regulation ranked by kindergarten teachers as the most important characteristic for children to possess.
Over half children entering kindergarten lack the necessary self-regulation to succeed.
In the past, studies of self-regulation as part of cognitive competency have been done on older children.
Well documented for middle and high school students.
More research needs to be done on young children.

12. Bibliography
Bodrova, E. & Leong, D. (2008). Developing self-regulation in kindergarten can we keep all the crickets in the basket?. Young Children, 63 (2), 56-58
Bodrova, E. (2006, December 22). Developing self-regulation: the Vygotskyian view The Free Library. (2006). Retrieved from
Bodrova, E. , & Leong, D. (2005). Uniquely preschool. Educational Leadership, 63(1), 44 – 47.

13. Bibliography
DeVries, R. & Zan, B. (2003). When children make rules. Educational Leadership, 61(1),
Fadell, L. (2011). Teaching your child the art of delayed gratification one marshmallow at a time. Retrieved from

14. Bibliography
Lee, P., Lan, W., Wang, C., &Chiu, H. (2008). Helping young children to delay gratification. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35(6), doi: /s
School readiness in Santa Clara county.(2008). Retrieved from