Think about the situations you outlined as a result of the previous post about the Cause/Effect of Impulsivity.
Teach your child how to STOP before acting on impulse using these suggestions.
Agree to a “key-word” or phrase you can use to STOP your child.
“The funnier the better. Stop!” does not work no matter how many times you say it!
Once your child stops, she needs to THINK about her options. For each option, she should ask herself some questions:
“Is it going to hurt anyone?”*
“Is it going to hurt me?” *
“Is it going to help me?”
*Make sure your child understands that “hurt” can include physical, emotional, and social problems.
Next, she should GO with the best choice!
After the fact, if she made a good choice, she should tell someone and celebrate!
If the didn’t make a good decision, she should ask someone, “How could I make a better choice next time?”
You will need to role-play this process a number of times using real-life situations. On a weekly basis, it may be helpful to role-play any upcoming challenges that could cause your child to become impulsive.
Stop, Think, Go for Impulsivity, Student Success! strategies and materials (c) 2009-2013, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.
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