Practicing Self-Regulation: Engaging Strategies to Teach Self-Control in Elementary Classrooms

Posted In Application On March 27, 2025

Self-control is a foundational executive function skill that plays a critical role in students’ academic success. By practicing self-regulation, young learners develop the ability to pause, think, and make intentional decisions, ultimately improving their academic performance and social skills. Elementary school teachers can empower students by integrating executive function instruction into their daily routines.  Here are five engaging strategies to help students practice self-regulation in meaningful and developmentally appropriate ways.

1. Observing Self-Control in Action

Encourage students to become keen observers of self-control by asking them to share examples of people demonstrating this skill. Over the course of several days, invite students to describe instances where they saw someone exercising self-control, whether in the classroom, at recess, or at home. Record their observations on a classroom chart and discuss how each example relates to practicing self-regulation. This activity helps students build awareness of self-control as an essential part of their daily interactions, reinforcing the importance of executive function strategies in real-life scenarios.

2. The “Look, Listen, Think” Card

To enhance self-awareness and self-monitoring, have students create a small card with the words Look, Listen, Think written on it. Encourage them to carry the card throughout the school day and use it as a reminder to pause and assess their surroundings. Ask students to reflect at the end of each day: Were they able to recognize when it was time to stop and adjust their behavior? This simple executive function tool fosters self-regulation and helps students internalize essential executive function lessons that support their learning and behavioral growth.

3. The Self-Control Chain Challenge

Blurting out in class can be a common challenge, but this interactive strategy turns self-control into a fun and visual learning experience. At the beginning of the day or week, have students create a chain of construction paper links. Each time a student blurts out or interrupts, they must remove one link. The goal is to keep as many links intact as possible. As students progress in practicing self-regulation, gradually reduce the number of links to encourage fewer interruptions. This activity not only builds self-discipline but also improves students’ academic performance by promoting focused classroom discussions.

4. The “What Would Happen?” Sign

Teaching students to think before they act is an essential component of executive function learning. Display a “What Would Happen?” sign in your classroom as a visual cue. At random moments during the day, pause the class and present two different actions students could take in a given situation. Have them consider the potential outcomes of each choice. Over time, students will begin to independently use this executive function strategy by looking at the sign before making decisions, strengthening their ability to practice self-regulation in real-time.

5. Decision-Making with “What Could I Do?”

Empower students with a structured approach to decision-making by providing them with a three-question decision-making card: “What Could I Do?” “What Would Happen?” “What Will I Do?” This tool helps students navigate challenging situations by encouraging them to pause, evaluate their choices, and select the best course of action. Integrating this method into classroom discussions and problem-solving moments fosters self-discipline, improves students’ self-regulation, and equips them with strategies to enhance their executive function skills.

Why Practicing Self-Regulation Matters

Developing self-control at an early age is essential for long-term academic and social success. Executive function instruction supports students in understanding how their thoughts and actions impact their learning and relationships. By embedding executive function strategies into your teaching, you help students build confidence, improve their ability to regulate emotions, and enhance their decision-making skills. Practicing self-regulation not only improves students’ academic performance but also sets the stage for lifelong success.

Explore More Executive Function Strategies

Looking for more ways to help students develop self-control? Check out our additional blog posts for other grade levels:

• Practicing Self-Regulation for Grades 5-8
• Practicing Self-Regulation for Grades 9-12

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Explore Cerebrate’s executive function curriculum and tools designed to improve students’ self-regulation and academic success. Discover our lessons here.