Teaching self-regulation skills to infants and preschoolers is crucial for their social, emotional, and cognitive development.
Here are some ways educators and parents can support the development of self-regulation in these early years:
Responsive Caregiving: Respond promptly to an infant's needs, such as feeding, changing, and comforting. This helps build a sense of security and trust.
Pay attention to cues and signals, learning to differentiate between different cries or expressions to address specific needs.
Establish Routines: Establishing consistent daily routines provides a sense of predictability and security for infants.
Regular feeding and nap schedules can help infants anticipate and adapt to their environment.