Supporting Children to Self-Regulate

Self-regulation is a key life skill that helps children manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in positive ways. At school, self-regulation supports students to stay focused, make good choices, and respond calmly to challenges — all of which contribute to a respectful and productive learning environment.

We encourage students to use the “Stop, Think, Choose” strategy when faced with a tricky situation:

• Stop – Pause before reacting.
• Think – Consider how they are feeling and what the best choices are.
• Choose – Act in a way that is safe, respectful, and responsible.

Families can support this at home by:

• Talking about feelings and positive ways to express them.
• Praising effort when children make calm, thoughtful choices.
• Modelling how to pause and take a breath before responding.

When students practise self-regulation consistently, the classroom becomes a calmer, more positive place where everyone can learn and thrive.