Self-regulation is clearly not an isolated skill. Children
must translate what they experience into information they
can use to regulate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
(Blair & Diamond 2008). Infants translate the feel of soothing touch and the sound of soft voices into cues that help them develop self-calming skills. Toddlers and preschoolers begin to translate cues from adults, such as “Your turn is next,
” into regulation that helps them inhibit urges to grab
food or toys. They begin to learn how long they must usually wait to be served food or to have a turn playing with a desired toy, which helps them regulate emotional tension.