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What is Co-Regulation and Why is it Important when Caring for Children?

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in a child’s social-emotional development. From birth through young adulthood, the process of co-regulation, where caregivers support and shape self-regulation skills, is foundational to a child’s emotional, social, and academic success. Learning more about these skills can help parents and caregivers enhance their co-regulation skills, ensuring that the young people in their care can thrive.

What is Co-Regulation?

Co-regulation is a process where caregivers, such as parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, provide the support and guidance necessary for developing self-regulation skills. Self-regulation involves managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviours to achieve goals, and it is crucial for success in various life areas, including education, relationships, and the workplace. Although self-regulation may seem like an internal process, it is significantly influenced by external interactions with caregivers.

Why is Learning Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation Important?

Self-regulation is vital for overall wellbeing, influencing educational achievement, physical health, and emotional stability. However, children and young adults do not develop such skills in isolation. They rely on caregivers to create predictable, responsive, and supportive environments. By teaching and modeling self-regulation, caregivers can help young people build the skills they need to manage their thoughts and emotions effectively.

How do I Teach these Skills?

1. Provide a warm, responsive relationship

  • Caregivers should display care and affection, recognize, and respond to cues signaling needs and wants, and provide support during times of stress. Building strong relationships with young people involves showing interest in their world, respecting them as individuals, and offering unconditional positive regard.

2. Structure the environment

  • Creating a physically and emotionally safe environment helps children and teens manage self-regulation. Consistent routines and clear expectations provide a sense of security, and allow children and teens to explore and learn without undue harm to their wellbeing.

3. Teach and model self-regulation skills

  • Caregivers can model self-regulation, offer instruction, provide opportunities for practice, and reinforce skill development. By modeling these skills, caregivers can support the development of self-regulation in the moment, helping young people learn to manage their behaviors and emotions effectively.

Caregiver Self-Regulation

For parents and caregivers to effectively co-regulate, they must also focus on their own regulation. This involves:

  • Paying attention to their feelings and reactions during stressful interactions;
  • Using strategies to calm themselves down and to respond with compassion; and,
  • Recognizing their thoughts and beliefs about the behaviours of others.

Caregivers may need support and practice to build their coping skills, and that is okay, which in turn helps them model and teach self-regulation to the children and teens in their care.

Co-Regulation across my Child’s Development

The need for co-regulation changes as children grow. From infancy to young adulthood, parents and caregivers must adapt their support to match the developmental stage of the child.

1. Infancy

  • Infants require caregivers to manage most of their regulatory needs, from feeding to providing comfort. Caregivers should be sensitive to cues and offer a soothing presence.

2. Toddlerhood

  • As toddlers begin to develop motor and language skills, caregivers can start teaching simple self-regulation strategies like waiting and using words to communicate needs. Structuring a safe environment and offering comfort during distressing moments.

3. Preschool

  • Preschoolers experience rapid brain development, making it an ideal time to teach and coach self-regulation skills such as emotion identification and problem-solving. Consistent routines, modeling, and clear expectations help pre-school students practice these new skills.

4. Elementary age

  • School-aged children start to gain more control over their emotions and behaviours. Parents and caregivers can teach emotional literacy, social skills, and problem-solving strategies while providing opportunities for independent decision-making.

5. Adolescence

  • During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant changes. Parents and caregivers should maintain warm relationships and provide space for independent decision-making while monitoring and supporting responsible choices. Teaching coping skills and offering support during stressful situations are essential during this period to maintain a close attachment.

Together, we can create a positive impact on the wellbeing and development of your child.

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