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Description of self-regulation

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L

February 1, 2024

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Question

What is self-regulation?

Answer

  • The ability to manage reactions, and behaviors, and to have good relationships with others
  • Believe it or not, this skill shows early, rapid growth in the toddler and pre-school years and can affect regulation later in life
  • Other aspects include focusing on a task, impulse control, and recovery after excitement or frustration

Self-regulation is the ability to manage reactions, behaviors, and relationships from an early age through adulthood. It involves focusing, demonstrating impulse control, and recovering after a reprimand. How quickly can they put their feet on the brakes, take it off the gas, and then recover and be in a self-regulatory state? 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Exploring Self-Regulation With 3 To 5 Year Oldspresented by Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L.


tere bowen irish

Tere Bowen-Irish, OTR/L

Tere Bowen-Irish has been practicing occupational therapy for over 40 years in pediatrics and psychiatry. Tere provides assessment, treatment, and collaborative services in public and private school systems. Through her business, All the Possibilities Inc., she offers workshops for therapists, parents, and educators focusing on service delivery, classroom management, mindfulness, wellness, and prevention for all school-age children. Tere is also the creator of The Drive Thru Menu Suite of Exercises (published by Therapro), an initiative to bring movement into today’s classrooms. She is a certified YogaKids Inc. teacher and incorporates creative movement and yoga into her practice. She is a Certified Mindful Schools Instructor. She is also the author of Yoga and Me, Come be a Tree and co-authored My Mindful Music with Mary Ann Harman.


Related Courses

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