Click here to access information about helping children self regulate
or go to the link below to get specific ideas of what you can do:
​https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-help-your-child-develop-executive-function-and-self-regulation-skills

Below are a sampling of examples illustrating how adults can
​influence the environment
and improve the behavior of a child.  

 Anne Gadzikowski, in her book, Challenging Exceptionally Bright Children in Early Childhood Classrooms shares enlightening research on praise:
"There is some debate among educators about the value of praise. Some feel that authentic praise benefits children by helping build their self-esteem.  Others feel that giving praise conditions children to seek acceptance from others and diminishes their ability to feel internal satisfaction from their accomplishments. Some research...suggests that children who are frequently praised for their intelligence rather than for their effort become excessively focused on achieving the right answers and less interested in the process of exploring and learning." (p. 55)
   

 
 Guiding Young Children by Eleanor Reynolds, 
​"Enriching the environment is a simple, effective technique that experienced teachers use intuitively.  The teacher observes what is happening in her classroom, evaluates the options, and adds something that was not previously not there.  [For example,] the teacher realizes that because it is almost lunchtime some children are especially hungry.  She evaluates certain factors...and decides to add singing to the environment." (p. 54)
  

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 In Fostering Children's Social Competence: The Teacher's Role,  Lilian Katz and Diane McClellan, state:
"Whole group instruction is not well suited to the way young children learn best, and it is very unlikely to be effective in reversing socially disruptive behavior, even if the behavior pattern is common to a sizable number of children in the class.  What works well with young children is individualized guidance.  It is generally more effective than group instruction for several reasons." (p. 19)
 

Why it matters​

Understanding our role in the climate of the classroom is just as critical for optimal learning  as is understanding content and strategies.

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