Self-Regulation

Self-regulation refers to managing your emotions and behavior, according to the demands of your situation and environment. Good self-regulation skills include calming yourself when upset, flexibly adjusting to changing expectations, keeping your emotions in check in difficult or upsetting situations, and coping with frustration. These skills enable children (and adults) to regulate their behavior in order to accomplish goals, despite changes in the environment and in their feelings. Most of us self-regulate unconsciously. For those that have difficulties in self-regulating, emotional reactions must be consciously managed through learning self-regulation strategies.