This study examined differential and mediating relations between hot and cool self-regulation (M<sub>age</sub> = 48.2 months; N = 1,155, 48% girls), first-grade (M<sub>age</sub> = 77.5 months) maladjustment (externalizing [EXT] and internalizing [INT] behavior), and first- and second-grade (M<sub>age</sub> = 89.5 months) academic competence (AC).