Right from the Start
Mental Heath Capacity Building
Project
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Impulse Control as an Opportunity for Growth
As a fundamental executive functioning skill, this is the ability to think before we act, resisting the urge to say or do something, allowing us the time to evaluate a situation and how our behavior might impact it.
This offering on "impulse control" does not contain all original material yet is a collection of strategies and ideas I have collected over the years as school-based OT
and are offered here to help boost
impulse control
for improved attention, self-regulation, learning and socializing at school.
You might know of a child, or noticed your own child, seemingly unable to “put on the brakes” in the classroom, in the schoolyard or at home. They may speak out, interrupt, jump up from their seat, often distracting their classmates, not as productive overall as they could be or reaching their full potential. There may be underlying reasons behind these behaviors and it is important to consider these reasons. There may be unmet sensory needs, trouble with expressive communication, emotional regulation challenges or other unseen factors.
Children develop controlled impulses as part of their overall development. The very young child does not have these skills. In fact, there are those of us who have difficulty refraining from a second cookie as adults! Impulse control requires will power, delayed gratification and self-control. For the child who struggles with sensory processing, attention, physical limitations, cognitive delays or other challenges, the ability to control impulses can be exceptionally difficult.
What we may observe in the classroom:
- Speaking out
- Interrupting classmates
- Quitting games
- Shoving/pushing or cutting in front of others in lines
- Jumping up from seat
- Hitting others (physical impulses)
Here are some general strategies and tools to consider when supporting children with difficulties with impulse control. Please consider that every child is unique and what works for one child may not work for another. It may be necessary to design more personalized strategies based on holistic assessment of the environment, the child’s abilities as well as task expectations/demands.
Strategies and tools to teach and promote impulse control
- Reduce visual clutter and maintain an organized space to reduce distractions.
- Engage the child in making short-term, manageable, meaningful and measurable goals; develop a way to keep goals visible, consistent and portable.
- Break big tasks or projects into smaller steps.
- Make a schedule (picture-based or list).
- Create “social stories” to make social expectations and consequences clear.
- Think through and predict social interactions before going into a situation and follow up
with acting out/role playing situations beforehand.
- Count to three before answering/responding.
- Create a system of self-rewards.
- Develop helpful self-talk skills; Keep a “positive thought” notebook.
- Reduce or increase time to complete tasks.
- Work with a peer to create supportive “control buddies”.
- Use a strategy checklist on desk.
- Have fun with such games such as red light/green light and “simon says”.
A final note: executive skills continue to develop hand-in-hand with the development of the frontal lobes (or “wise leader”) of the brain into our late 20s. This knowledge often helps with maintaining realistic expectations for the youngest members of our world.
Additional resource: “Smart But Scattered” by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare.
By Adrienne Lawlor AHS Occupational Therapist
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Sneak Peek at the Elizabeth Rummel Christmas Craft Sale by the grade 3 Soulwarmers.
Come on out and support this great club at ERS on Dec 06 during out Take 5 event!
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Elizabeth Rummel School
The kindergartens and grade 1's practiced jelly belly breathing; a calming strategy to help us feel more at ease and happy.
All students had lessons on being an UP-STANDER; standing up when they see or hear something that is un-kind to others. The Grade 2's and 3's had lessons on thinking about how they can make a difference, asking themselves: 'Did I do everything I could today to make the world a better place today?"
The Grade 3 Soulwarmers having been making crafts to sell on December 6th to raise funds for the SPCA;
Join us for our Take 5 event at 8:05am and see what cool hand made treasures you may wish to purchase for this great cause.
Lastly ERS is doing a food drive to contribute to the Christmas Spirit Campaign. Please bring food items to donate! Here is a list of things they need...
Create a Happier, more Peaceful Home!
1-1 Parent Coaching
Are you ready to put an end to the yelling and frustration and create more harmony in your home? RFTS Success Coach, Kate Rive is offering a series of four 1-1 parent coaching sessions to help families connect with what is most important to them and create more ease in their lives. Get the support you need to feel EMPOWERED and PROUD at how you handle whatever parenthood throws your way and raise strong, respectful, kind kids.
Contact Kate at:
kate.rive@crps.ca
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Alpenglow School
Save the Date:
Alpenglow School Assembly
- will be on
December 07 from 11:30-12:00
in the CCHS theatre -
Parents Welcome.
Take 5 - for parents and their children.
This is an opportunity for you to come and meet Right from the Start and spend an extra 5 minutes with your child at school before their morning walk. We will have coffee and tea as well as a few healthy treats to share.
December 8
from 8:10-8:25am
At Alpenglow the 3/4s are working with the Toolbox, practicing tools like personal space and using your safe place.They also made squooshy balls to use as tactile tools to help them self stay focused or reduce stress. In the pursuit of creating and sustaining a healthy classroom culture, the 5/6s did a beautiful activity where all the students wrote positive messages about each other on envelopes. And then each student wrote a note of appreciation to him or herself. These letters will be mailed to the students soon. Stay tuned!
Mary has been supporting the Kindies, Grade 1 and Grade 2's this past month with universal messaging around the 'getting to know your brain', 'keeping the problem small' as well as 'expected and unexpected behaviors' in different settings such as on the playground, in a small group or in the classroom. The kids have been fantastic in sharing what they know and asking great questions! Right from the Start is excited to be supporting Alpenglow on universal messaging!!
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Banff Elementary School
BES Soulwarmers made recycle boxes to capture mixed recycling in classrooms
. And they are BUSY like elves preparing for the annual
Soulwarmers Sale and Take 5, which happens Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 8:15 am.Join us!
Funds are being raised for the Bow Valley SPCA and the Terry Fox Foundation. Most items cost between $1 and $5.
At Banff Elementary School students have been learning about anti bullying with the help of three awesome books:
Weird, Dare,
and
Tough
, a series by Erin Frankel. Wow! These books so nicely describe the kinds of situations that do unfortunately occur commonly in our schools. Great advice from the book
Weird
says "The more I act like I don't care what she says, the more I really don't care. And the more she thinks I don't care, the more she leaves me alone. Now that's really... weird!"
Tough
looks at it from the perspective of the person who bullies, and
Dare
gives good, common sense advice for the person who sees the bullying. Grade 6 students painted anti-bullying messages on a school bus. Beyond the Hurt was delivered by high school students to grade 6's. Other themes at BES include looking for highlights, taking wonderful walks, and using a (self-constructed) speed-o-meter to gauge how fast the students' "engines" are running.
The "Gilli " group is a group of 6 students chosen from division 2 that could benefit from taking on a leadership role. With the help from Mark Gabel and Gilli the fantastic therapy dog, this group has learned the various roles therapy dogs play in communities and are helping guide how we can use Gilli at BES. The group along with Mark, Gillie and RFTS Ms. Van Impe meet once a week for an hour .The first half hour is with the group and the second half hour has been teaching classes about Gilli and therapy dogs in general. Stay tuned to find out where and how Gilli will show up at BES.
A special thank you to the Gabel family for sharing this wonderful dog and co- facilitating such a wonderful opportunity for BES.
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Lawrence Grassi Middle School
It was Bullying Awareness Week in November and some of the
Grades 4, 5, and 6's
read relevant stories with Mr D, and discussed bullying. Students voiced how it may look and where it may take place at LGMS. The Acronym
HARM (Hurtful words and Actions, Repeated more than once Meant to hurt or control others)
was reviewed as well as helpful strategies which could be used to help out in difficult situations. Some classes role played and decided what would and would not work in particular student led scenarios. To bring a wider awareness to issues around Bullying, some Grade 4 and 5's helped to decorate a CRPS bus with relevant messaging and pictures.
The
Grade 8
youth continued their honest discussions about peer treatment. Experiential activities were used with the boys as the basis of how to support one another. Some issues have been resolved, while others, like in real life, require continued support and effort. Conversations continued with the Grade 8 classes about expectations and how and when to use your voice and wisdom. This is of course done with the valued contributions of our awesome teachers and teaching assistants.
The
Grade 4's
had a fabulous inaugural Grand Pal visit where they made cookies, played games, and exchanged letters. This letter exchange will continue for the rest of the school year and it's purpose is to create cross generational connections in our Canmore community. Along with Carol Falloon, Mr D continues to support students in smaller and larger groups on issues relevant to them.
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Right from the Start
Project Coordinator - Mary Weighell
mary.weighell@crps.ca
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