Giving teachers Tools to address challenging behaviors

Self-regulation for the win

Parents and teachers see children who are able to self-regulate achieving greater success in school. And the benefits aren’t just academic. Self-regulation can also be a predictor for better physical, mental and financial health later in life. With so much in the balance, it is important for children to develop habits that strengthen self-regulation. And neuroscientific evidence shows that early childhood is a critical period for developing self-regulation, when children's brains are primed for this kind of learning. Tools has always underscored the importance of self-regulation development and deliberately incorporated these skills into all Tools activities, encouraging their development at just the right time for young children. 

Practice goes a long way

A recent study published in Frontiers of Psychology shows that regularly practicing self-regulation in Tools classrooms improves these skills for all children in the class, helping to set them “on a more positive developmental trajectory.” However, these skills don’t develop at equal rates for all children. In fact, practicing self-regulation through Tools of the Mind activities actually improves these skills much more for children who enter Tools with the lowest levels of self-control. 

Children whose parents described them as having more inattention and hyperactivity when they first started school made the most gains after learning in a Tools classroom, leading to significantly improved self-regulation skills for these kids. Researchers believe (and we agree!) that these children, whose inattention during any given activity might ordinarily get in the way of engaging fully, gain the intended benefit of the activities (better self-regulation) because they have so many opportunities to practice self-regulation throughout the Tools day. 

The Tools you need

Tools classrooms expertly support social and academic development for all children. We now know that there is an increased benefit for the children who most need this support, those whose teachers and families see their struggles with attention and hyperactivity interfering with their success at school and at home. Tools of the Mind empowers teachers to support each child in managing their emotions and behaviors. If there are children with challenging behaviors in your classroom, Tools might be just the tool you need.

Tools Takeaways

• Children who struggle most with inattention and hyperactivity gain the most from learning in a Tools classroom
• Children with lower self-regulation skills benefit from the many opportunities to practice these skills throughout the Tools day

To read the full article, published in Frontiers in Psychology, click here.