
This list contains resources to help educators and families support self-regulation and executive function in young children.
IEL Resources
- Tip Sheets:
- Dealing with Distraction
- Feelings are Fantastic
- Fuss Management: Comforting the Irritable Child
- Fuss Management: Planning Ahead to Prevent Tantrums
- Helping Children Develop ‘Impulse Control’
- Helping Children Handle Disappointment
- Keep Up the Good Work
- Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Consistent
- Positive Guidance for Young Children: Be Thoughtful
- Positive Guidance for Young Children: Plan Ahead
- Positive Guidance for Young Children: Take a Break and Calm Down
- Tool Kit: Challenging Behaviors in Young Children
- Video: Self-Regulation: Foundation of Development
Web Resources
-
The 3 Areas of Executive Function
Source: Understood
This article explains the three areas of executive function: working memory, cognitive flexibility (flexible thinking), and inhibitory control (self-control).
-
Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence
Source: Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University)
This is a guide to enhance and practice executive function skills. Executive function and self-regulation (EF/SR) skills provide critical supports for learning and development, and while we aren’t born with these skills, we are born with the potential to develop them through interactions and practice.
-
A Guide to Executive Function
Source: Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University)
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about executive function and self-regulation skills and how to develop and practice them throughout life.
-
“I Want It—Now!” How Children Learn Self-Control
Source: Psychology Today
This article addresses how parents can help shape children’s emotion regulation. Three key factors for regulation are provided.
-
Mastery Motivation: Persistence and Problem Solving in Preschool
Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Persistence at mastering challenging tasks is mastery motivation, and it plays a key role in children’s learning and in their later academic achievement. This article gives five ways to support mastery motivation.
-
Parenting Strategies for a Persistent Child
Source: Zero to Three
This parenting resource provides parenting tips to help the persistent child approach challenges in a more constructive way.
-
Promoting Self-Regulation in the First Five Years: A Practice Brief
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
This brief provides information about self-regulation development in the first five years of life. It is designed for early childhood leaders such as program administrators.
-
Self-Regulation Snap Shot #1: A Focus on Infants and Toddlers
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
This page provides links to resources and a report that summarizes key concepts about self-regulation development and intervention for infants and toddlers for practitioners and educators interested in promoting self-regulation for this age group.
-
Self-Regulation Snap Shot #2: A Focus on Preschool-Aged Children
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
This pages provides links to resources and a report that summarizes key concepts about self-regulation development and intervention for preschool-aged children for practitioners and educators interested in promoting self-regulation for this age group.
-
Setting Limits: Helping Children Learn Self-Regulation
Source: PBS
This article addresses the benefits of setting limits for children and tips for guiding children so that they feel supported and valued.
-
What Is Executive Function? And How Does It Relate to Child Development?
Source: Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University)
This resource contains an infographic and a Q&A on executive function in young children.