HOW TO USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP YOUR CHILD IMPROVE:

Self-Control

The ability to regulate one’s behaviors and emotions plays a central role in children’s relationships with parents, teachers, and peers, as well as in their acceptance as a member of a team, classroom, or organization. Self-control is a developmental feature of childhood; as children get older, expectations of their capacity to display age-appropriate behaviors and self-restraint increase. Children with difficulties in self-control frequently display behaviors such as speaking out of turn, having temper tantrums, displaying high-risk/attention-getting behaviors, and being highly reactive to negative comments. 

Common indications of self-control difficulties include:

• Blurting things out in class; interrupting others in conversation
• High-risk and dangerous behaviors
• Acting before thinking; reacting without restraint

Further information regarding self-control can be found in LearningWork for Kids.com sections on Regulation of Affect, Response Inhibition, Sustained Attention, and Resources. Digital technologies can be used to support, practice, and enhance self-control skills at home. Parents are encouraged to utilize children’s other strengths, intelligences, and interests to assist them with their self-control difficulties. Digital technologies used in conjunction with parent, teacher, and peer mediation/involvement may be helpful with the preceding list.