All young humans must negotiate the transition
from total dependence on others at birth to
competence and internal control, including learning
to regulate their emotions, behaviors, and
attention. For young infants, there are tasks such
as learning to soothe themselves from arousal to
a settled state. A few years later, self-regulation
means developing the capacity to manage strong
emotions and keep one’s attention focused.
Throughout the early years, adults play significant
roles in helping children learn to self-regulate.