Self-Regulation Skills

Self-regulation assists students in managing their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in order to successfully manage their learning experiences.

Four kids smiling on a couch

How Does it Impact School Function

  • Support child’s ability to handle their emotional reactions to new situations
  • Helps students follow directions
  • Improves attention
  • Helps students retain information.
  • Aids students in being able to sit still and listen.
  • Allows students to appropriately interact with peers.
  • Assists student with waiting and walking in line.

Enhancing The Classroom Environment

  • Limit extraneous visual material (bright commercially made borders and posters, mobiles)
  • Keep clutter to a minimum
  • Cover bottom of desk and chair legs with tennis balls if floors are uncarpeted
  • Arrange the classroom so that noise-making activities are in one corner and quiet activities are in another
  • Use a rubber strip along the bottom of the door to reduce hallway noise
  • Avoid the use of noisy fans; have computers off when not using
  • Use natural light as much as possible
  • Plan seating adaptations that help students to remain calm and focused (e.g., using disc cushions for students with sensory-integration issues, allowing fidget toys at desks)
  • Provide quiet, calming areas where children can go when they need to down-regulate so that they can focus and be attentive

Classroom Management

  • Try to reduce auditory distractions by using chimes or music rather than school bells or buzzers to signify transitions
  • Keep classroom schedule predictable to help students anticipate transitions throughout the day
  • Consider using fidget toys, exercise bands, or worry beads to help students stay calmly focussed and alert
  • Take time to observe class over several days; note times when a number of students have trouble transitioning from one learning event to another
  • From student observations note those who experience hypo- or hyperarousal more often and for longer periods than peers; keep track of triggers and consider where to make modifications making it easier to self-regulate
  • Provide activities that allow for student choice
  • Make your self-regulation techniques obvious to your students using age-appropriate vocabulary to help them understand and internalize the concept of self-regulation
  • Try to establish a connection between students’ parents and caregivers  so there is continuity between strategies used in and outside of the classroom