The suite of social-emotional skills embedded in the capacity
to self-regulate—including self-soothing, self-control,
emotional awareness, and empathy—is critical for success
in school, work, and life. Gaps in these skills often emerge
early and may have deeply concerning outcomes. However,
preschoolers who can manage their strong emotions can
focus on learning tasks rather than being overwhelmed
by intense feelings. This leads to better outcomes. When
adults support infants’ and toddlers’ ability to regulate their
emotions, they lay the foundation of social-emotional skills
that maximizes young children’s chances for success later
in preschool and beyond (Davis & Logsdon 2011).