Self-regulation development among young Spanish-English dual language learners

•Longitudinal data for self-regulation in dual-language learners from 4 sites were analyzed.•Participating children were predominantly from families of low income.•Three patterns of growth were observed: early, later, and intermediate.•Those in the latter group did not develop self-regulation until after school entry.•Boys and lower SES children were more likely to be in the later growth group.