Nurturing Self-Regulation in Early Childhood explores how young children develop self-regulation and offers practical guidance on helping them to manage their feelings and behaviour. It considers the skills, attitudes and dispositions children need to be able to self-regulate and how their wellbeing and self-esteem can affect their ability to do this.

Grimmer and Geens show how schools and settings can adopt an ethos where self-regulation permeates their whole provision. Considering the broad and multifaceted nature of self-regulation and how this key area of development shapes children and their learning, the chapters cover:

• developing empathy
• emotion coaching
• the practitioner as a co-regulator
• executive function and the sense of self and wellbeing
• international approaches to promoting self-regulation
• the role of the adult and environment in encouraging skills for self-regulation
• working effectively with parents and carers to ensure a consistent approach

With a focus on developmentally appropriate expectations, this book is essential reading for all early childhood educators who want to develop their understanding of self-regulation and embrace an approach that underpins their practice and changes children’s lives.

'The world of education, most particularly early years has been waiting for this book, which eloquently outlines the importance of nurturing emotional development. The authors carefully outline the theory and practice that best supports children in the growth of self-regulation, essentially underpinned by emotional security, and highlight its importance in both learning and behaviour in the classroom. If only they had been consulted for the recent, currently contested update of the Early Years Foundation Stage. But I am confident, after reading this outstanding text that their time will come. A must read for teachers of all ages and stages.'



Dr Pam Jarvis CPsychol
Honorary Research Fellow, Leeds Trinity University

Tamsin Grimmer is director of Linden Learning and a Senior Lecturer in Early Years Teacher Education at Bath Spa University. An experienced consultant and trainer, she has written several books, including Developing a Loving Pedagogy in the Early Years and Calling all Superheroes.

Wendy Geens is an experienced Early Years Teacher, Primary Teacher and Senior Leader who is currently a Senior Lecturer in Early Years Teacher Education at Bath Spa University. Wendy is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and her research interests are in early years mathematics and self-regulation.