Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists September 2016 | Page 26

Here are 6 simple tips to encourage self regulation in all children:
1. Therapists, teachers and parents should model good self regulation and self control. Use a
calm tone in stressful situations. Model self control during disruptive classroom or home time.
2. Partner children who lack self regulation with children who exhibit better control to act as
appropriate role models.
3. Play fun games that require children to wait for directions before they act (i.e. Simon Says).
4. Play fun games that require turn taking.
5. Keep activities structured and predictable.
6. Students respond to opportunities for self-regulation significantly more often in small group
and play contexts.
References:
Flora, I. Developing Young Children’s Self-Regulation through Everyday Experiences. Young
Children July 2011 pp 46-51.
Ponitz, C. et al. A structured observation of behavioral self-regulation and its contribution to
kindergarten outcomes. Developmental Psychology. Vol 45(3), May 2009, 605-619.
Timmons, Kristy, Janette Pelletier, and Carl Corter. “Understanding children’s self-regulation
within different classroom contexts.” Early Child Development and Care 186.2 (2016): 249-267.

FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION about the Self-Regulation Skills Curriculum.

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