If You Have Concerns or Questions
If your child has trouble with self-regulation, it could be due to environmental stressors or your child’s unique differences. All individuals differ in their ability to take in, organize, and respond to sensations in the world around them. These differences can greatly impact how a child is able to manage feelings, attention, or impulses.

These are examples of behaviors that indicate trouble with self-regulation:

• Trouble maintaining attention or focus, making it difficult to finish activities
• Ongoing and significant impulsivity; high-strung
• Hyperactivity at home and in other environments
• Lots of trouble with change and transitions
• Hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch, or movement
• Hyposensitivity (lower than average) to light, sound, touch, or movement
• Trouble maintaining or establishing a consistent sleeping or feeding routine
• Trouble managing strong emotions; may hit, punch, or bite
• Frequent trouble waiting; quickly becomes agitated or frustrated when asked to do so

Does your child have any of the signs listed above? Do you have major concerns about your child’s self-regulation? If so, it may be helpful to share those concerns with a trusted physician, teacher, or mental health provider. Any of these professionals may be able to help you get the support needed to help your child build a sense of self-control. Occupational therapy, play therapy, socialization groups, and academic accommodations are just a few of the interventions that may be incredibly useful to a child struggling with self-regulation. Remember to keep your child’s age and developmental level in mind when interpreting any behaviors.