A Focus on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health

April 2023
Self-Regulation
This newsletter focuses on sharing information on infant/early childhood mental health and
the importance of relationship-based approaches and supports that help infants and young children feel safe, supported, and valued by the adults around them. The newsletter, and the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC) program, is made possible by a partnership between the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and the Pennsylvania Key.
April showers bring May flowers along with this issue of the IECMH Consultation newsletter focusing on self-regulation. This quote from author L.R. Knost describes this concept as “when little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it is our job to share our calm. Not join their chaos.” 

As adults entrusted to care for and about children it is our responsibility to meet children’s big feelings appropriately in order to support their ability to self-regulate as they grow and mature into adults themselves.  
There is a free PD on Wednesday, April 19, 2023: Self and Co-Regulation Instructional Strategies for Young Children.
 
Participants will describe strategies for teaching self-regulation and co-regulation skills in young children. Participants will embed these strategies into typical daily routines and activities.
Children are not born with self-control. Infants and toddlers cannot regulate their emotions on their own, they need loving adults in their lives to help them immediately regulate their emotions and behaviors and learn skills to do so independently. With practice and support, young children can learn skills that will help them self-regulate.
 
Very young children’s capacity for self-regulation is limited, and they are very dependent on their teachers for co-regulation. For those working with infants and toddlers, warm and responsive interactions are truly foundational for the development of self-regulation.

Fostering Self-Regulation in Infants and Toddlers. Children are not born with the ability to regulate themselves and therefore depend on a supportive nurturing environment to foster the skills required for effective self-regulation. 

Things That Will Help Me Stay Calm – Toddlers. Toddlers experience big emotions as they learn to make meaning of their world. This infographic provides tips to support self-regulation simply through connecting with them throughout their day.
The preschool period in a child’s life is full of new experiences, new expectations, and new opportunities to build relationships. Children in this age group have great potential to develop their self-regulation skills with specific instruction, support, and scaffolding from caring adults. It starts with you.
 
Tips for Practitioners Working with Preschool Children in Classroom Settings. Caregivers can use these tips to foster children’s self-regulation skills through co-regulation.

Help Your Preschooler Gain Self-Control. Self-control enables children to cooperate with others, to cope with frustration, and to resolve conflicts. Learn how you can help children begin to develop this skill that is necessary for success in school and healthy social development.
 
8 Tips to Help Children with Self-Regulation infographic. Learning self-control (or self-regulation) is one of children’s most important developmental tasks. Self-regulation has to do with a child’s ability to control their emotions, respond in appropriate ways to frustration, get along well with others and eventually become independent.
Self-regulation matures just like other developmental processes. Research indicates that self-regulation in students is a predictor of academic and social abilities. 

What is Co-Regulation and What Does It Look Like in the Classroom? Students and educators alike—are dealing with high levels of stress. This can make what might otherwise be expected moments of challenge, conflict, and dysregulation even more difficult to handle. Read more for strategies that create a co-regulating classroom.
 
Co-regulation: What It Is and Why It Matters video, 5:22. This animation offers a brief introduction to co-regulation support to foster self-regulation in youth
 
Coping Skills Checklist. Help students explore and identify what coping skills they are using, the ones they want to try and the ones that don’t work.
Self-control enables children to cooperate with others, to cope with frustration, and to resolve conflicts. Parents and families can help their children begin to develop this skill that is necessary for success in school and healthy social development.

Information for Parent: Self-Regulation. Read to understand why self-regulation matters and what to expect and when.

Activities to Promote Resilience in Children: Focusing on the protective factor of Self-Regulation. Three ways that parents and families can help their child build self-regulation.
  • Activities to Promote Resilience in Toddlers in English and Spanish
  • Activities to Promote Resilience in Preschoolers in English and Spanish

Help Us Stay Calm. Strategies that help you and your child during challenging behavior.
IECMH Consultation helps adults strengthen their relationships with young children and build capacity to respond to children’s social-emotional needs. IECMHC can help reduce caregiver stress, as well as increase caregivers’ reflective practice skills.
 
IECMH Consultants are available by appointment to provide IECMHC Virtual Office Hours consultation via telephone or video conference. IECMHC Virtual Office Hours is a short-term, collaborative, problem-solving conversation to help you find next steps for: Child Social-Emotional Concerns | Child Behavioral or Developmental Concerns Emotional Well-being of Teachers and Caregivers | Partnering with Families.
 
Appointments are held on the first and third Fridays of the month, or other days/times by request. Get more info.
The Pennsylvania Key has streamlined the process for Keystone STARS programs to request Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC). Child care providers can request services by using the Request for Service Form (PDF). Completed forms can be submitted via email PAIECMH@pakeys.org or faxed to 717-213-3749.
 
Programs and families can contact the program leadership directly at PAIECMH@pakeys.org with questions or concerns.
With the generous support of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), the Pennsylvania Key IECMH Consultation team was able to add staff member, Lauren Walter, to support School Age Child Care (SACC) programs participating in Keystone STARS.  This service will be primarily tele-consultation support. Click here to request support.  
Share your feedback! We'd like to hear what you think about infant early childhood mental health. Are there resources you'd like to see? Questions you have? Tell us! Send your feedback to PAIECMH@pakeys.org.