Self Regulation: Cause & Effect

It is easy to assume children understand the connection between their behavior and the result. In fact, most young children are just beginning to connect their actions with the consequences. Once they make this connection, they can begin to control their impulses, predict the results of their choices, and use that information to more deliberate decisions about what actions to take.

At school we reflect on children’s actions, calling their attention to cause and effect. You can use this simple sentence template at home: “You (action) and (result.)"
 

“You turned the crank and the clown popped up.”

“You mixed red and yellow and look what you got.”

“You wiped up that spill and now the table is all clean again.”

Adapted from Beyond Behavior Management: The Six Life Skills Children Need to Thrive in Today’s World by Jenna Bilmes.