Thursday, March 1, 2012

Emotional Sef-regulation


Emotional Self-Regulation & Effortful Control is developed in Early Childhood. This is essential in the child's interaction with the world around them. These skills indicate the child's internal functions for dealing with stress and how they internalize their perceived messages from the environment. It is with these skills that a child adjusts their perceptions and coping skills for living. If a child is given an opportunity to develop secure attachments; thereby allowing for their safe exploration and development of an independent self-identity, that child will most likely develop strong emotional self-regulation and effortful control. This allows the child to redirect attention to something else if denied it's first interest (effortful control--I didn't really want to play ball, I think I'll draw a picture.) Emotional Self-Regulation is demonstrated when a child adjusts their senses to control the intake of environmental stimulus (covering ears to muffle the sound of a loud siren, or shutting eyes tightly during a graphic scene on tv). These skills are imperative for a child to have a sense of control over self and their interaction with their world. If the opportunity to attach, explore, and build these skills are not encouraged, a child may be deprived of the ability to interact well with peers and others in general, their self-esteem and outlook upon life (as hostile or intrusive) may instead be impacted affecting them into adulthood.

Glenda Roach

3 comments:

  1. I feel like the children that don't know how to emotionally self-regulate will have problems later in life. They don't know how to control their behavior, act impulsively, and lack coping skills that help them deal with anger. A lot of it (in my opinion) is the type of role model that parents are being. With all the drug use becomming more and more of a problem, and parents acting violent during their use, kids see this and model their bad behavior. It is our job to teach our kids how to be good people and without a positive person in their life, who is going to teach our children how to be a good person? I really liked this post and agree with everything that was said!! Zara Foley

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  2. Glenda,
    Your post reminds me of my youngest daughter. When she was in the three to four year old range, she would cover her eyes when she sang or played a part in the Christmas play. She did not want people looking at her. She was very shy. I can see now that this was her way of controlling her environment. It is so easy to look back and see that my child was developing normally. She is now 20 years old and very out going. It is hard to believe she was a shy little four year old. She is very confident in every thing she does.
    Susan Davis

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  3. I also feel that it is important to remember all the things that parents can do to help their children learn to self-regulate! Kaden was being a hyper, disobedient little turd the other day and I said: "K, do you need to take a cool down? You are really making mommy feel sad when you talk to me like that..." It kinda shocked him....He was like, 1st, what the heck is a cool down LOL This was the first time I ever said it to him like that. But he thought it was a good idea. He went to his room for a minute or two and came back with kisses and hugs for his mommy! Sure made me happy ;)

    I use time out a lot with him, but a gentle reminder that he should take a second to calm down when he forgets to do it himself is very beneficial.

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