Effortful control is the ability to regulate one’s responses to external stimuli. More specifically, it is the ability to inhibit an automatic response—such as the desire to call out an answer in class the instant you know it—and to instead perform a non-automatic response, like raising one’s hand and waiting to be called on. Effortful control has been shown to be a key factor in children’s school readiness, academic performance, and social and emotional competence.