Self-Regulation - Fad or Valuable?

The rise of social media and instant access to information online has had so many benefits for parents/carers. It has allowed them to easily look up what is normal child development and what is not and also tips and strategies for difficult seasons in parenthood from babies right through the teenagers. However, it is all not good news. With instant access and literally billions of pages of information (some of which contradict each other), it can be difficult to know what to trust.

Self-regulation is a term that has become more popular, so it begs the question, is it the next fad, or is it something valuable?

If you follow our wellbeing posts on social media, you would have seen us make mention of this term before. We believe it is not the next fad but a very important aspect of children’s wellbeing from toddlers right through to teens.

We are confident in this because we know it is backed by research. In fact, self-regulation is one of our key wellbeing pillars that comes from Professor Lea Waters Visible Wellbeing Model.

What is self-regulation?

Self-regulation is the ability to understand and manage your behaviour and your reactions to feelings and things happening around you.

It includes being able to:

• regulate reactions to strong emotions like frustration, excitement, anger and embarrassment

• calm down after something exciting or upsetting

• focus on a task

• refocus attention on a new task

• control impulses

• behave in ways that help you get along with other people.

In our Junior School, we use The Zones of Regulation to help make the abstract concept more relatable for our students.

How to develop self-regulation?

Children develop self-regulation through warm and responsive relationships. They also develop it by watching the adults around them. Self-regulation starts when children are babies. It develops most in the toddler and preschool years, but it also keeps developing right into adulthood.

Here are some practical tips you can implement over the school holidays to continue to nurture your child/ren self-regulation:

• Encourage your child to use claiming down tools

• Plan for challenging situations where it might be hard for younger children to behave well. For example, ‘The shop we’re going to has lots of things that can break. It’s OK to look, but please don’t touch’. Give your child a gentle reminder as you enter the shop. For example, ‘Remember – just looking, OK?’

• Involve pre-teens and teenagers in problem-solving and negotiating difficult situations. For example, ‘I'm working all weekend, so I know it’ll be boring for you. Let’s figure out how you can make the most of the time’.

• Praise your child when they show self-regulation and manage a tricky situation. For example, ‘You were great at waiting for your turn’, or ‘I liked the way that you shared with Sam when he asked’.

To learn more about self-regulation and parenting, click here and take a look at Raising Children Parenting Network.

Make sure you are following us on social media (Facebook and Instagram), where we regularly share about what our students are learning and how you can continue the conversation at home.

Healthy Recipe

With Spring now here and the weather starting to warm, smoothies make such a great snack! This healthy choc smoothie is super easy to make and is such a delicious and healthy snack. If you give the recipe a try, please share it with us on social media.

School Holiday Wellbeing Tip

Daily Wellbeing - challenge your child/ren to choose one activity on the wellbeing grid to complete each day. Maybe they could complete their wellbeing activity before any screen time.

Resources - Are you happy for this to be repeated as a reminder?

Smiling Minds is a not-for-profit organisation whose vision is to help every mind thrive and its mission is to provide accessible, lifelong tools to support healthy minds. They have a number of tools including meditations which you can explore at home on their website https://www.smilingmind.com.au

eSafety Parents is an online portal that contains information for parents/carers to help children have safe experienced online. They have downloadable resources, webinars and lots of information to explore - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents

Beyond Blue, Healthy Families is all about giving you the information, knowledge and confidence to support the young people in your life. They are also here to help you take care of your own mental health and wellbeing - https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/