In this study, self-regulation was examined in relation to maternal limit setting during toddlerhood. Observational coding of limit-setting interactions was carried out at 12, 24, and 36 months using the Prohibition Coding Scheme (Houck & LeCuyer, 1995;. At five years, self-regulation was assessed by observation of self-imposed delay-of-gratification (Shoda, Mischel, & Peake, 1990), and behavior problems were measured by maternal report on a behavior checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991). Maternal limit-setting patterns at every age differentiated subsequent duration of delay, but not behavior problems. A power-based maternal pattern in limit setting adversely affected later selfimposed delay. Although an indirect limit-setting pattern optimized the child's delay duration, a teachingbased pattern yielded more consistently positive outcomes at 36 months and normative delay durations at age five years.RESUMEN: En este estudio se examinó la autorregulación en relación con la forma como las madres ponen límites durante los primeros años del infante. La codificación de la observación de las interacciones en cuanto a poner límites se llevó a cabo a los 12, 24 y 36 meses, usando el Esquema de Codificación de la Prohibición (Houck y LeCuyer, 1995; LeCuyer-Maus y Houck, 2000). A los 5 años, la autorregulación fue evaluada por medio de la observación de la autoimpuesta demora de la gratificación (Shoda, Mischel y Peake, 1990), y los problemas de conducta fueron medidos por medio del informe materno tomando como base una lista de situaciones de conducta (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991). Los patrones de cómo las madres imponen límites a cada una de las edades diferenciaron las duraciones subsecuentes de la demora, pero no los problemas de conducta. Un patrón materno de poner límites, basado en el control del poder, afectó adversamente la posterior autoimpuesta demora. Aunque un patrón indirecto de poner límites mejoró la duración de la demora impuesta por el niño, un patrón basado en la enseñanza produjo más consistentemente resultados positivos a los 36 meses y las duraciones normativas de las demoras a la edad de 5 años.RÉ SUMÉ : Dans cette étude, la régulation de soi a été examinée par rapport à la manière dont la mère impose des limites durant la petite enfance. Le codage observationnel d'interactions durant lesquelles des limites étaient imposées ont été faits à l'âge de 12, 24 et 36 mois, en utilisant le plan de codage de

Early findings from the Prohibition Coding Scheme (PCS; Houck & LeCuyer, 1995; LeCuyer‐Maus & Houck, 2002; Medvin & Spieker, 1985) revealed that maternal limit‐setting styles with toddlers were differentially related to later child social competence, self‐concept, and delay of gratification. For this study, the PCS was revised to provide more information about the specific strategies mothers used during limit‐setting in relation to those outcomes. Results from the PCS‐Revised (PCS‐R; LeCuyer & Houck, 2004) included that the more time mothers spent actively distracting their toddlers away from a prohibited object during limit‐setting, as early as 12 months, the longer their children could delay gratification at age 5 years. Mothers who spent more time sensitively following and being engaged in their toddler's own interests (other than the prohibited object), again as early as 12 months, had more socially competent children with more developed self‐concepts at age 3 years. Maternal use of reasoning statements later in toddlerhood also related to higher levels of social competence. Maternal limits and prohibitions were not related to these outcomes, and appeared to contribute to the development of self‐regulation mainly by creating the opportunity for the use of other, less directive strategies. The findings indicate that these strategies may be important to include in intervention programs for the promotion of toddler and child development of self‐regulation.

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During the transition of their children to toddlerhood, mothers must learn to adapt their behaviors in a period of marked developmental change. Maternal sensitivity and responsiveness were examined across interactions with varying levels of control-saliency over children at 12 months. Mothers were significantly less sensitive as a group in more control-salient interactions (teaching task, toy clean-up, and limit-setting), than in less control-salient interactions (play and snack). Mothers' sensitivity and responsiveness, and their perceived relationship history in their own families of origin, also were related to their use of limit-setting strategies. Mothers who were less sensitive and responsive, and who reported more negative relationship histories, displayed power-based limit-setting strategies. In contrast, higher levels of maternal sensitivity and responsiveness and more positive relationship histories were associated with teaching-based limit-setting styles.