Self -regulation is the ability to monitor and manage your energy states, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that are acceptable and produce positive results such as well-being, positive social relationships, and learning. 

Self-regulation is an important ability to be able to understand and manage your actions and reactions to feelings and things happening around you.

It includes being able to:

• regulate reactions to emotions like frustration or excitement

• calm down after something exciting or upsetting

• focus on a task

• refocus attention on a new task

• control impulses

• learn behavior that helps you get along with other people.

Our regulation is highly impacted by our physiological state (based on nutrition, rest, and safety).  It is further impacted by our emotions, our cognitive processes and the environment around us, including sensory stimuli and task demands.  The more complex the demands are, the more difficult it is for one to regulate themselves independently.

Emotions

Emotions play a big role in our ability to self-regulate.  It takes a great deal of practice and many opportunities in order to learn about how our unique body reacts during different emotions, and which "tools" or strategies may help us in different settings. 

When children are learning about emotions they depend on adults around them to support their understanding, and perceptions surrounding emotional expression. 

Children do best when adults co-regulate with them while they learn strategies for managing emotions. 

Social Emotional learning is a building block for developing self-confidence, self-management, resilience, social awareness, relationships, and a growth "I can" mindset.  It is a basis for empowering kindness, respect, and responsibility.