Relations between self-regulation and early writing: Domain specific or task dependent?

•Self-regulation was significantly and positively related to letter writing and spelling for preschool children.•Self-regulation was significantly and positively related to composition tasks in kindergarten.•The relation between self-regulation and early writing is task dependent – both on the nature and the type of task used to measure a given skill.•Findings have important implications when examining the role of self-regulation and academic skills.