The National Association of School Psychologists
Self-control is an important skill for all children to learn. It refers to having
power or control over one’s own actions. It also means that an individual knows
right from wrong. Children who do not make choices for their own behavior,
but instead rely on other children, parents, teachers, or adults to make choices
for them, do not learn self-control. These children may follow others’ bad
choices and get involved in ridiculing others, taking away others’ things, and not
taking responsibility for the consequences of their behavior. They also may listen
to others who say negative things about people who may be different due to skin
color, race, culture, religion, or disabilities. The skill of self-control will allow
children to know that the right thing to do is to be tolerant of others despite
differences. If students are taught self-control at an early age, then they will feel
better about the choices that they do make