Self-Regulation Strategies to Teach Kids with Books and Videos

Use books and videos in the classroom to teach kids self-regulation strategies during social-emotional learning lessons and activities with kids.

How do you teach kids self-regulation and self-control strategies? In order for children to develop socially and emotionally, you must address these two skills. Sometimes simply sharing a good book or video on the subject is the easiest way! This post includes books and videos you can use in your classroom to teach self-management.

Self-Regulation Strategies to Teach Kids with Books and Videos

Self-regulation involves being able to identify when you are upset, calming down, and controlling your reactions. When students become frustrated or angry, they often need help coping with their feelings. Methods such as breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga are helpful. Reading books or watching videos introduce concepts to children and help them understand ways to relieve overwhelming emotions.

Books that Teach Self Control and Self-Regulation Strategies

These books are great for grabbing students’ attention and educating them effectively. Use them for a read-aloud or small group lesson to teach important social-emotional skills.

1. The Kids’ Guide to Staying Awesome and In Control by Lauren Brukner: This book teaches kids how to regulate their feelings and emotions. Also, it has plenty of examples of ways to cope with those feelings and take action to control them.

2. How to Be a Superhero Called Self-Control by Lauren Brukner: This book, as the one above by the same author, addresses children’s ability to cope with negative emotions in healthy ways, and ultimately control themselves.

3. I Can Do That: A Book on Self-Regulation by Kayla J.W. Marnach: This thought-provoking rhyme helps children see that they can control their reactions to unsatisfactory events, and use a variety of ways to do so.

4. When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang: This popular book opens up discussion with children about what to do when your anger seems to take control of you.

Creating a calm down kit with tools that help children breathe, calm down, and self-regulate is extremely useful in the classroom. Set-up a calm down area when children can go to and use the tools in their kit. Click here to check it out.

5. My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook: Sometimes it’s hard to keep it in when you’ve got something to say! Being able to control your voice and delay gratification is a concept that children learn in this book.

6. I’m in Charge of Me! (The Best Me I Can Be) by David Parker: This little book is a great way to explain to children that they may not be able to control their circumstances, but they can control how they react to them.

7. Even Superheroes Have Bad Days by Shelly Becker: No matter who you are, even a superhero, you’re going to have a bad day here or there. The best thing to do is deal with it as a superhero.

8. You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman: The character in this book is a spunky squirrel who learns how to deal with disappointments: you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.

9. The Way I Act by Steve Metzger: This book shows children inspiring ways to react to all kinds of different situations, whether good or bad. It shows them that they can control those actions.

10. What Were You Thinking?: Learning To Control Your Impulses by Brian Smith: When a young boy is just a little too impulsive, he must learn to control his impulses. In this way, he can get along better with those around him.

Teaching children to identify how they are feeling is an important first step in learning to self-regulate. Help them do this with a feelings clip chart. Click here to check it out.

Videos that Teach Self Control and Self-Regulation Strategies

Don’t miss using these videos in your lessons about social-emotional skills! They’re sure to entertain and engage students in a way that helps them remember the concepts.

Self-Control (Character Education Song) by Hero25

This rapping puppet encourages children to control their attitudes and behaviors with easy-to-follow song lyrics and danceable beat.

The Berenstein Bears – The Green-Eyed Monster

When sister feels jealous, it causes her to act in ways that are impulsive. This causes her to almost crash her brother’s new bike. The lesson of this story is controlling your emotions and choosing to be happy for others.

Yoga is a powerful strategy to use in the classroom to practice self-regulation strategies. Use yoga cards during your classroom meetings and P.E. time to help create a calming environment for children who are energized or needing to focus. Click here to check them out.

Learning About Self-Control by Michael Mills

A popular book character, Pete the Cat, is reproduced in this simple song about dealing with disappointment.

Stickman Struggles with Anger by Brad Chapin

A simple video with a simple drawing depicts a stick man thinking aloud and resolving his anger. He chooses to take a walk, after considering several coping options.

Teaching children to breathe properly in order to calm down is an excellent step towards learning to self-regulate. Teach children to breathe in and out like a balloon to see them relax and develop self-control. Click here to check it out.

FREE Balloon Breathing Posters

Use this poster and technique to teach children how to calm down and self-regulate using balloon breathing. Use the large balloon breathing poster to teach the class and smaller size in a child’s calm down kit.

Click the image below to get your copy!

Sesame Street: Ian McKellan Teaches Cookie Monster to Resist

Self control is hard for cookie monster – he just loves those cookies! How can he resist them? He learns self-control!

Self-Management Classroom Resources

The complete self-management unit for K-2 includes tons of helpful lessons and activities. It helps children learn to self-regulate and develop self-control and self-esteem. Click here to see everything included.

Watch the video to see the calm down kit being put together included in the self-management unit!

The complete self-management unit for 3-5 includes tons of lessons and activities. It helps older kids continue to self-regulate their emotions and behaviors and develop mindfulness. Click here to see everything included.

Watch the video to see the self-management unit for 3-5 in action!

Use these books and videos with your students to effectively introduce the skills of self-regulation. Your students can adopt the techniques they see, and your classroom will be a happier, emotionally healthy place. Enjoy!

Read More about Teaching Kids Self-Regulation Strategies

Teaching Self-Regulation Skills

Mindfulness Activities for Kids

How to Be Responsible

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