Calm and in Control Book: Self-Regulation Strategies for Kids
By Teaching Supplies & Child Care | Published: 2026-10-16
Category: Product Reviews
A practical buying guide to the Calm and in Control book and companion resources for teaching self-regulation strategies to young children.
Quick answer
If you need one practical, affordable resource for teaching self-regulation strategies to children ages three to seven, the Calm and in Control book is the best starting point. Pair it with Nurturing Neurodiversity when you serve mixed-ability groups, and add the I See You Board Books or the Bilingual Colors & Shapes Kit if you also want daily tools children can use independently.
What the Calm and in Control book actually gives you
Most children learn self-regulation—the ability to remain calm and in control of thoughts, actions, and emotions—between ages three and seven, usually in response to an external event or stimulus. That developmental window is why the Calm and in Control book focuses on simple, effective strategies rather than theory. It is a paperback, so it works as a lendable staff copy or a family resource you can mark up with sticky notes. At $17.71 against a $24.95 comparison price, it is inexpensive enough to buy one per classroom team rather than one per building.
How to choose between the Calm and in Control book and Nurturing Neurodiversity
These two books overlap in audience but not in job. The Calm and in Control book is a targeted self-regulation strategies resource: you reach for it when a specific child or group needs help staying regulated. Nurturing Neurodiversity is broader—it is written for early childhood educators building classrooms that embrace neurodiversity and benefit all learners, and it draws on Sarah Taylor Vanover's experience to share creative ideas for using art and other media. Choose the Calm and in Control book when your goal is a focused intervention toolkit. Choose Nurturing Neurodiversity when your goal is whole-classroom design and you want creative engagement strategies alongside regulation support.
Add child-facing materials so strategies stick
Adult strategy books work best when children have their own materials to practice with. The I See You Board Books set of four is built for ages 12 months and up and follows individual toddlers through daily routines, highlighting emotions, resilience, kindness, and curiosity. That makes the set a natural read-aloud companion when you are coaching young children self-regulation in real time. For slightly older toddlers, the Bilingual Colors & Shapes Learning Kit is for ages 2 years and up and includes bilingual activity cards targeted to each stage of development. It strengthens family engagement because the cards give caregivers a concrete activity to run at home, which is where most self-regulation practice actually happens.
Budget and format trade-offs to weigh
The Calm and in Control book is the lowest-cost entry point in this group and the most portable, but it is a paperback and covers one topic. Nurturing Neurodiversity costs more at $20.67 against a $29.95 comparison price and covers a wider range of learners, so it can replace two narrower purchases if your team is small. The I See You Board Books set and the Bilingual Colors & Shapes Kit are durable child-facing items rather than staff references, so they survive handling by toddlers but do not replace a strategy guide. None of these records list available option types or bundled extras, so confirm whether you need multiples before ordering.
Decision rules for choosing your self-regulation resources
- One focused regulation problem: If your team keeps asking how to help specific children stay calm, start with the Calm and in Control book alone. Lowest-cost first step; add child-facing books only after staff have read it.
- Mixed-ability or inclusive classroom: If you serve neurodiverse learners across a full classroom, choose Nurturing Neurodiversity instead of or alongside the Calm and in Control book. Buy both only if you have separate budgets for intervention and classroom design.
- Toddler room with read-aloud time: If your children are 12 months and up, the I See You Board Books set gives them language for emotions during routines. Pair with the Calm and in Control book so adults and children use the same vocabulary.
- Family engagement priority: If caregivers need something to do at home, choose the Bilingual Colors & Shapes Learning Kit for ages 2 years and up. Activity cards make the home handoff concrete rather than another handout.
Product facts
- Calm and in Control: Simple and Effective Strategies to Support Young Children's Self-Regulation - Paperback: Paperback guide to simple and effective strategies that support young children's self-regulation, with most children developing this ability between ages three and seven. It targets the exact developmental window when regulation skills form, so it is useful for preschool and early elementary staff rather than a general parenting book.
- Nurturing Neurodiversity: Creative Strategies for Engaging Young Learners: Written by Sarah Taylor Vanover, EdD, for early childhood educators creating classrooms that embrace neurodiversity, with creative ideas for using art and other media. It suits programs that need whole-classroom inclusion planning, not just one child's regulation plan.
- I See You Board Books - Set of 4: Set of four board books for ages 12 months and up; each book follows one toddler through daily routines and highlights emotions, resilience, kindness, and curiosity. Gives toddlers a concrete, repeatable way to name feelings, which supports the adult strategies in the Calm and in Control book.
- Colors & Shapes Learning Kit - Bilingual: Bilingual kit for ages 2 years and up with carefully selected materials and activity cards targeted to each stage of development. Extends regulation and concept learning into the home and supports dual-language families.
Who this resource set fits
Best for
- Preschool and early elementary teachers working with children ages three to seven
- Child care programs that need an affordable, lendable staff reference
- Families and educators who want child-facing books and bilingual activities to reinforce regulation at home
Not for
- Programs seeking a comprehensive curriculum rather than a focused strategy guide
- Buyers who need only child-facing materials and no adult reference
- Anyone looking for a single product that covers both neurodiversity classroom design and toddler read-alouds
