Self-regulation mediates the relations between family factors and preschool readiness

This study examined the role of selfregulation in the path from family factors to preschool readiness in China. Altogether 661 preschool children ( M = 43.30 months, SD = 3.6) were sampled from 5 preschools in a coastal city of Southern China. Their parents reported on the family routines, parenting styles, and the child’s selfregulation. And their teachers rated each child’s preschool readiness. The structural equa- tion modeling results suggested that: (1) selfregulation could significantly predict children’s preschool readiness, including abilities to follow classroom rules, learning dispositions, and social competence; (2) selfregulation mediated the path from family routines to children’s preschool readiness; (3) selfregulation also mediated the relationships between authoritative parenting and children’s preschool readiness; (4) authoritarian parenting directly influenced children’s social competence; and (5) family SES only corre- lated with young children’s selfcare and emotional maturity. These findings underscore the importance of considering the joint influences of children’s selfregulation, family routines, parenting styles, and family SES in shaping children’s readiness for preschool.