Final answer:
Self-regulation can be observed beginning at about c. 2 years of age. This is when toddlers start to express their autonomy and preferences, setting the foundation for future self-regulatory behavior as they grow and become more socially aware.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-regulation, or self-control, can be observed in children beginning at about age 2 years. At this stage, toddlers are exploring their world and beginning to exert their autonomy which is central to the development of self-regulation. They start showing preferences for food, toys, and clothing and try to establish independence, a tendency famously known during the "me do it" stage. A common example of this is a 2-year-old child insisting on choosing their outfits to express autonomy, despite the appropriateness of their selection for various situations.
As they reach preschool age, children become capable of initiating activities and asserting control over their world through play and social interactions. Success in tasks at this stage, based on Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, contributes to a positive sense of self and further development of self-regulation skills. They learn to share, cooperate with others, and can experience guilt if their initiatives are stifled, for instance, by over-controlling parents.
By the age of six, children are able to understand their role within groups, asserting statements like "I'm a first grader!" This group identity and the ability to compare themselves with peers show a more advanced level of self-regulation where they begin to recognize both positive traits and areas for improvement in themselves.