Make it easy for your toddler to be successful with simple tasks such as putting on shoes or helping to pick up toys. New Jersey Birth to Three Early Learning Standards. (2013). New Jersey Council for Young Children. Bater, L. & Jordan,S. (2017). Child routines and self-regulation serially mediate parenting practices and externalizing problems in preschool children. Child & Youth Care Forum, 46(2), 243–259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-016-9377-7 (Level IV)
Play has also been shown to be effective in helping children develop self-regulation. During play, children must act deliberately, inhibiting behaviour that is not part of the specific role. Such inhibiting action supports the development of intentional behaviour. When playing with others, children also learn to wait for their turn, control emotions when things don’t go their way (such as learning how to react when a toy is snatched), and comply with others' commands. Elkonin, D,B., Psychologija Igry (The Psychology of Play). 2005a. preface to “The Psychology of Play” (Ot avtora: biografia issledovanni), trans. Lydia Razran Stone. Journal of Russian and East European Psychology 43:11- 21. (Level III) Bodrova, E., Germeroth, C., & Leong, D.J. (2013). “Play and Self-Regulation: Lessons from Vygotsky.” American Journal of Play 6:111–23. (Level III)
Studies have also shown that routines
According to Kopp, between 12 and 18 months of age, children become capable of control, which involves the awareness of social demands and the ability to initiate, maintain, stop undesirable behaviour, and to comply with caregivers’ requests. By 24 months, they acquire self-control, which includes the ability to delay on request and begin to regulate behaviour, even in the absence of external monitors.