SELF-REGULATION “YOUR THERMOSTAT”

Our recent parent equipping sessions are centered around regulation (control). Emotional regulation is a key component in self-regulation. Most cognitive control (brain control) skills are interconnected. The excerpt below equates self-regulation to a thermostat which is a great way to understand the importance of self-regulation.

Emotional Regulation is helping our kids understand how their bodies work and build awareness to changes that impact them emotionally that in turn will impact their reactions. Learning about our emotions (how we feel) and the words to express our emotions is foundational in managing our reactions. Join us during the next couple of weeks as we continue to learn on such an important skills set.

How Self-Regulation Works?

“You can think of self-regulation in terms of how a thermostat works. A thermostat is set to kick on or off to keep a room at a certain desired temperature—a “set point.” To do that, it needs to keep track of temperature changes, compare them to the set point, and “know” whether to heat or cool the room to get back to the desired temperature. 

When it comes to self-regulation, your child also has a “set point.” It’s when she’s able to manage her emotions and behavior in appropriate ways. 

To maintain that level of control, she needs to keep track of changes in her situation or environment. She needs to assess how she’s feeling and reacting, compared to her set point. And she has to know what adjustments to make in order to get back to that point” (Morin, A. Understood.org)

Morin, A.  The Trouble With Self-regulation What You Need To Know.  Understood.org https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/trouble-with-self-regulation-what-you-need-to-know?_ul=1*sb82ea*domain_userid*YW1wLWIyV0U2a3FCUldLVEVzb3ZDZXpWRWc.