Pen Green Centre for children and their families

Self-regulation and resilience in the early years

This webinar highlights that self-regulation is crucial for children’s emotional and cognitive development, with attachment, co-regulation, and resilience playing key roles in this process.

Join us as we discuss the following:

• Self-Regulation Definition: Self-regulation refers to the ability of children to manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a positive manner. It includes both emotional (identifying and managing emotions) and cognitive self-regulation (impulse control, attention, and decision-making).
• Importance of Self-Regulation:
  • It helps children focus and learn effectively.
  • Early development of self-regulation positively impacts literacy and numeracy skills.
  • It aids in emotional resilience, reducing impulsive behaviors, and promoting positive social interactions.
• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Self-Regulation: By age five, children should understand their feelings, set goals, control impulses, and follow instructions.
• Attachment and Self-Regulation: Early attachment experiences influence a child’s ability to regulate emotions. Secure attachments create a foundation for emotional regulation and resilience.
• Co-Regulation: Adults and children influence each other’s emotional states. This mutual regulation is essential in helping children learn to manage stress.
• Pedagogic Strategies: Strategies that practitioners can develop in their practice such as emotion coaching, mindfulness, empathy, and creating quiet spaces to help children develop self-regulation.
• Promoting Resilience: The webinar emphasises the importance of helping children build resilience to thrive in difficult situations and how we, as practitioners, can support children.