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Kindness Challenge

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7 day kindness challenge

I was reminded that November 11th is World Kindness Day. It seems that the world needs a lot of kindness at the moment! This 7 day kindness challenge is an old family challenge that I had on this website. Today, you’ll find a free family kindness challenge, with free printable challenge cards, and extra kindness ideas and activities that the whole family can use in random acts of kindness. It’s cool to be kind, right? Pass on kindness and challenge the whole family to spread kindness!

 Kindness Challenge

This kindness challenge is a free family kindness challenge to help kids and the whole family use random acts of kindness to pass on!

Going through the routines and schedules of family, work, school, commitments, family obligations, and all that being part of a family entails…it is exhausting. For families of young children, there might be online learning, middle of the night wake-ups, diapers, sticky fingers, crusty faces, and the general mayhem of family life. For parents of older children, it’s dealing with online learning, technology, and the daily changes of 2020! Motherhood is a beautiful and messy job.  

Between all that is happening in the world and life in general, there can be moments of gratitude, empathy, laughter, snuggles and peace.  Then there are the big whiffs of baby head and soft skin mixed with love.  (Every Mom knows that scent, right??)  The good hugely crushes the exhaustion and we keep going.

7 Day Kindness Challenge

When the outside world’s dangers and unpredictability nears the shelter of our homes, we can grow weary just when we need our strength…to smile through the difficulties.  It is SO good to hear of positive work being done in the world.  There are people who strive for kindness, bravely inspiring grace in the world.  Our kids’ world needs the good.

We’ve got something very exciting to share today.  Going on the theme of being the good in the world and inspiring others with kindness and graciousness, we’ve got a challenge for you.  A challenge for your family.  Make that a Challenge. (Capitalized makes it sound more “official”, right??)  This is a Challenge for your family to take part in over 7 days, with kid-friendly kind acts and activities that will inspire good in you and good in others.  Gratitude, joy, giving, kindness, awareness, patience, and a positive outlook can inspire others to be the good too.  This is a short and easy challenge.  One week of ideas that can be fit into your family’s schedules and needs.  Get ready to inspire and be inspired.

But first, you’ll want to hear how we were inspired to inspire others!  

7 Day Challenge for inspiring good and change. Take this challenge, loaded with easy activities that families and kids can do together for one week and be an inspiration of good, gratitude, and kindness by blessing and inspiring others.




To believe there is good in the world is to have ownership in that thought process and to be a part of the good. That’s what this family kindness challenge is all about. This is a challenge for your family, for kids, and for you to make a difference in small and meaningful ways, over a week’s time.  This is one week challenge (because let’s face it, any longer than a week is a lot of commitment when it comes to family time and kids needs.  Sometimes a commitment of 10 minutes is a lot to ask!)  

The 7 Day Family Kindness Challenge

This challenge is simple.  Gather your family and get ready to inspire and be inspired.  Get ready to be the change and inspire the change in this world!  Each day, you’ll open an envelope together as a family and inspire.  Inspire each other, inspire others, and inspire yourself with good. Your week of challenges will be a time of growth and intention for your family.  The great thing about growth is that growth doesn’t stop.  Whether we’re talking about children or weeds, growing doesn’t end.  And adults don’t stop growing either! This challenge is about being brave, being inspirational, and being full of intentional growth.  Get ready to have fun, too!

Free kindness challenge printable for the 7 day kindness challenge.
7 Day Challenge for inspiring good and change. Take this challenge, loaded with easy activities that families and kids can do together for one week and be an inspiration of good, gratitude, and kindness by blessing and inspiring others.

 First, print out the sheet above.  

Next,  get your printable challenge cards (above).  You can find and print off this sheet for free, along with the other cards needed for this free 7 day challenge. Grab those at the bottom of this blog post.

 Cut along the black lines and fold each section into a long rectangle.  Place these, along with the printable daily instruction cards into an envelope.  Each day, gather as a family and read through the cards.  Be sure to allow time to do each day’s activities.  This doesn’t have to be a stressful–allow time to fill these activities into your schedule.  Remember that passing along positive changes to others is intentional and brave.  You are the change and it is starting with your family!

7 day kindness challenge activities include noticing others and appreciating others.

Print off this challenge card and all of the others in the 7 Day Family Challenge by entering your email HERE. You will be directed to your free printable.  OR just read from the info below 🙂


Kindness Challenge DAY 1: Notice.


Notice and appreciate others and the world around you.  Is a friend being helpful at school?  Did a stranger stop and pick up a piece of litter?  Observe and tell them “thank you.” for doing something helpful that makes a difference.  Does someone on the bus look sad? Ask them how they are feeling or if something happened that morning to make them sad.  Do you notice a mess in your classroom or house that needs cleaning?  Be the change and go beyond the expected.  Soon, others will notice you being the change and will follow your example.  And if no one notices your attempts?  Open your mouth!  Not to brag, but rather, invite others to notice their world, too.

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • Make a card for someone you notice having a bad day.
  • Create a care package for a sick friend or neighbor.
  • Help a stranger by holding a door.

Kindness Challenge DAY 2: Give.

A surprise gift or little treat can change a person’s whole day.  A small dose of generosity can inspire a long string of kind acts.  Give a compliment, give a hand, or give away items to those in need. Being generous is giving what we have or what we are.  It can be easy to get swept up in schedules, homework, and household chores that need done.  Be generous with your time and intention as you inspire others by being giving to others despite busyness.  Share your time as you help a neighbor pull in trash cans. Or give your time by listening to a friend’s troubles with an open heart.    

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • Give toys or clothes you no longer need to charity.
  • Give an unexpected gift of baked goods to a neighbor.
  • Give school supplies to a teacher to stock their classroom.

  We made candy jars and gifted them to neighbors and teachers.    

Family kindness challenge

Kindness Challenge DAY 3: Gratitude.

Thanking someone lets a person know that you appreciate them.  When a person feels appreciated, they know they have a purpose and are loved.  Showing gratitude can be as simple as saying “Thank you.” to someone for letting you go first.  Don’t let an opportunity to show gratitude pass by without being a change, though–Look the person you are thanking in the eye and smile!  Or show gratitude in a bigger way by writing a card with a drawing or words that show your appreciation.  Tell them that they’ve made a difference in your life.  Leaving a positive imprint on someone can change the whole course of their day and those they come in contact with.   EXTRA

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • Thank your postal worker for their hard work.  Give them a glass of water or a snack.
  • Thank your teacher.  They work hard and many days, get little appreciation.  Thank them with a jar of candy or a small gift along with a word of thanks.
  • Start a Gratitude Journal.  Each night before bed, write down a few things that you are thankful for.  This could be done as a family or individually.

Kindness Challenge DAY 4: Positivity.

Plant positivity in the lives of those around you with a smile and by going the extra mile.  A small dose of positivity spreads.  And a simple thing like a smile can inspire a wildfire of positive actions around you.  Smile as you hold a door for someone.  Compliment someone today with genuine words and leave conversations on a positive note.  Being positive requires bravery.  Choose to make a difference and inspire another person’s positive attitude as you hold open every door you come across today.  Smile at and greet people as they come through.    

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • As you sit down to dinner, go around the table and name 3 positive things that happened for each person that day.   Discuss accomplishments and how you can help others in your family accomplish their goals.
  • Listen to a friend with a positive attitude.  If you notice negative words or complaining, turn it around with optimism.  Help your friend turn a big problem into a series of smaller, accomplish goals by writing down strategies to help.
  • Draw a family collage of happy thoughts.  Each family member can add to the artwork by drawing pictures and writing down things that make them happy.  Hang the collage art in a place that is always seen, like the living room wall.  You can even frame it!
7 Day Challenge for inspiring good and change. Take this challenge, loaded with easy activities that families and kids can do together for one week and be an inspiration of good, gratitude, and kindness by blessing and inspiring others.

Kindness Challenge DAY 5: Kindness.

Small and random acts of kindness can change a person’s whole day.  It is easy to do a kind act or say kind words to others in a way that will allow them to grow and spread kindness.  It can be as simple as showing kindness to creatures by feeding the birds in your neighborhood or sharing bubbles with children at the park.  You can do many acts of kindness together as a family.  

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • Deliver flowers to a neighbor you don’t know that well.
  • Donate books to the library.
  • Write kind notes for siblings.


Kindness Challenge DAY 6: Patience.

Being patient can be hard!  When a friend just isn’t listening to what you have to say, when a child demands attention with a tantrum, or when a driver blows their horn at you on the highway…patience is self-control in difficult situations.  Showing patience can have a real impact on other’s behavior and attitudes, though.  Today, purposefully and intentionally pause before speaking to others.  Ask yourself if you have a thoughtful and patient response.  They may not realize you are exercising patience in your interactions, but your meaningful words will resonate.

Extra Kindness Activities:

  • Plant seeds together as a family.  Talk about how we need patience to wait for the plant to grow.  Water your plant every day!
  • Talk about times when you must be patient as a family: waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for a doctor’s appointment, or waiting for an upcoming fun event.  How can you make these times of waiting more tolerable?  Make an action plan for situations where patience is required.


Kindness Challenge DAY 7: Joy.

 The best thing about this 7 day Family Challenge is that doing and being aware, giving, gracious, positive, kind, and patient will lend itself to joy.  You will see joy in others around you and in yourself as you make and are the change in others.  By helping and doing kind acts for others, you will find that joy doesn’t come from what you own.  It is helping others.  Showing gratitude for blessings and blessing others is joy.  Your challenge for today is to show joy just by being you.  Be brave and intentionally spread joy through kindness.  How can you extend this seven day challenge to additional days in small and meaningful ways?    

Extra Kindness Activities:  

  • Turn someone’s negative outlook into joy with a kind word, a small gift and word of thanks, or patience.  
  • Create Joy Art: Use watercolors, paints, and markers to create a work of art depicting joy.  What means joy to you?  Talk with your family about what Joy means to each family member and how possessions are not real sources of joy.


I recently saw a quote that really inspired me.  

 “Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else- our time, our love, our resources.  I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.”-S. Truett Cathy

Kindness quote: "Nearly every moment of every day, we have the opportunity to give something to someone else- our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return."-S. Truett Cathy

  Get all of the challenge cards for free to print off and challenge your family again and again in these inspiring and brave ways.  

Be intentional and be remarkable!  Lick here to GET YOUR PRINTABLE 7 DAY CHALLENGE CARDS by entering your email.  You’ll be added to our newsletter mailing list and will receive occasional emails from us with our latest blog posts.   

7 Day Challenge for inspiring good and change. Take this challenge, loaded with easy activities that families and kids can do together for one week and be an inspiration of good, gratitude, and kindness by blessing and inspiring others.

   

 

 

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

Fun Mindfulness Activities

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Here, you will find fun mindfulness activities to help kids with creative mindfulness exercises that can help kids feel better, reduce stress, address anxiety, and have a greater awareness of their body and mind. Mindfulness activities for kids can be used as a self-regulation tool or a coping strategy. The sky’s the limit!


Looking for more ways to teach mindfulness? Here are winter themed mindfulness activities that kids will love. 

These FUN Mindfulness activities are helpful self-regulation tools for kids.

 

Fun Mindfulness Activities



First, let’s talk about what mindfulness means.

Mindfulness activities for kids can help kids with attention coping, learning, self-regulation, and more!

What is mindfulness?



Mindfulness is the ability to bring your attention to the events happening in the moment. It allows us to carefully observe our thoughts and feeling, to develop a sense of self awareness.  Mindfulness can be done anywhere. It does not require special equipment. It can be as easy as sitting and thinking or visualizing a place in your mind.

Who is mindfulness good for?



Mindfulness is great for any age, including kids. School can be a very overwhelming experience with expectations, rules, noises, crowds. Being able to do fun mindfulness activities can be a good way for children to self-regulate, focus and feel better emotionally and physically. Learning how to self-regulate (being able to manage your own emotions) is an important skill to learn at a young age.


Mindfulness is a helpful tool in addressing executive functioning skills needs in kids.

 

Mindfulness activities for kids



Listed below are some easy, beginning mindfulness activities to try with kids.
Looking for more ideas? Here are some mindfulness videos on YouTube.

Mindfulness Activity #1: Mindful Breathing- 

Taking deep breaths is so important in relaxation it brings awareness to your body. There are many different ways to teach kids to take deep breaths and then blow out. Using a pinwheel, blowing bubbles, blowing out candles, picturing a balloon opening and closing with breath. Even having your child breath in while you count to 5 and then breath out.

Mindfulness Activity #2: Body Scan- 

Have your child lay on his/her back. Tell them to tense up all muscles from head to toe and hold for 10-15 seconds. Then have them release and relax, ask them how they feel. This exercise helps kids to recognize how their body is feeling in a tense vs. Calm state.

Mindfulness Activity #3: Visualization or Guided Imagery–

This is a relaxation technique that is used to promote positive mental images. You can find guided imagery scripts online, pertaining to many different subjects from nature to emotions. Start by having your child close their eyes, while seated or lying down. Slowly read the script and have them visualize the image in their minds, then have them draw a picture of that place and keep it in their desk or at home as a reference to a calm place for them.

Mindfulness Activity #4: Take a Walk- 

Being outside and taking a walk is a great way for your child to be present in the moment. Point out the different sounds heard from birds chirping to leaves rustling. Notice the smell of the fresh cut grass or flowers. Feel the different textures of sand and rocks. Notice the sun, wind and clouds. Bring a blanket and lay on the grass, look up at the trees, look at the clouds.   Walk over to a pound and listen for frogs, look for fish and throw rocks in to make a splash.

Mindfulness Activity # 5: Stretching/Yoga- 

Taking deep breaths and stretching can be a very calming and teaches you to be aware of how your body is feeling.  Turn the lights down, put on relaxing music and help guide your child through bedtime relaxation stretches for kids.


Use these mindfulness strategies for kids as a coping strategy, to help with attention in the classroom, to impact learning, or to address self-regulation needs. What’s very cool is that each awareness activity could be themed to fit classroom or homeschool lessons, the curriculum, or seasons. Make these mindfulness activities fit the needs of your classroom, clients, and kids!


Mindfulness is a coping strategy used in The Impulse Control Journal.

The Impulse control journal is a printable journal for kids that helps them to identify goals, assess successes, and address areas of needs. The Impulse Control Journal is a printable packet of sheets that help kids with impulse control needs.

Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE.

The Impulse Control Journal has been totally revamped to include 79 pages of tools to address the habits, mindst, routines, and strategies to address impulse control in kids.

More about the Impulse Control Journal:

  • 30 Drawing Journal Pages to reflect and pinpoint individual strategies
  • 28 Journal Lists so kids can write quick checklists regarding strengths, qualities, supports, areas of need, and insights
  • 8 Journaling worksheets to pinpoint coping skills, feelings, emotions, and strategies that work for the individual
  • Daily and Weekly tracking sheets for keeping track of tasks and goals
  • Mindset,Vision, and Habit pages for helping kids make an impact
  • Self-evaluation sheets to self-reflect and identify when inhibition is hard and what choices look like
  • Daily tracker pages so your child can keep track of their day
  • Task lists to monitor chores and daily tasks so it gets done everyday
  • Journal pages to help improve new habits
  • Charts and guides for monitoring impulse control so your child can improve their self-confidence
  • Strategy journal pages to help kids use self-reflection and self-regulation so they can succeed at home and in the classroom
  • Goal sheets for setting goals and working to meet those goals while improving persistence
  • Tools for improving mindset to help kids create a set of coping strategies that work for their needs
This is a HUGE digital resource that you can print to use over and over again.  



 

Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE. 
 
These fun mindfulness activities for kids can help kids in so many ways!
About Christina:
Christina Komaniecki is a school based Occupational Therapist. I graduated from Governors State University with a master’s in occupational therapy.   I have been working in the pediatric setting for almost 6 years and have worked in early intervention, outpatient pediatrics, inpatient pediatrics, day rehab, private clinic and schools. My passion is working with children and I love to see them learn new things and grow. I love my two little girls, family, yoga and going on long walks.

Executive Functioning Skills Course

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free executive function course

Free Executive Functioning Course

Wondering about what are executive functioning skills? Today, I’m very excited to share a mini course that I’ve been working on behind the scenes. This Free Executive Functioning Skills Course is a FREE, 5-day email course that will help you understand executive functioning and all that is included in the set of mental skills.

Executive functioning skills course for understanding executive function skills in kids.



So often, therapists are asked to explain executive functioning. Parents are looking for insight and how to help kids who struggle with the underlying areas that play a part in attention, organization, working memory, impulse control, and the other executive functioning skills. Teachers are looking for strategies to use in the classroom while understanding exactly what makes up executive functioning and how to help disorganized kids in the classroom.


Does any of these scenarios sound familiar?

 

This free executive functioning skills course will cover all of the above and describe strategies to help.

Executive functioning skills are a set of mental skills that work together in learning, safety, and functioning through self-regulation, self control and organized thoughts.


Executive Functioning Skills Course

If you have ever wondered how to help kids who struggle with:

 

  • Disorganization leading to impulsive actions and inattention in the classroom
  • The child that struggles to plan ahead and be prepared for the day
  • The child that lacks insight to cross a busy street without looking both ways
  • The student that loses their homework and important papers every day
  • The kiddo that just can’t get simple tasks done like cleaning up toys on the playroom floor
  • The child that focuses on other kids rather than a classroom assignment and then doesn’t finish in a given time
  • The kiddo that is constantly late because he can’t prioritize morning tasks like brushing teeth, eating breakfast, and getting dressed.
 
Do any of THESE scenarios sound familiar?
Easy strategies to help with executive functioning in kids in this free executive functioning course

So often, we KNOW kids are struggling with mental tasks that limit their functioning, safety, and learning. Here’s the thing: executive functioning skills develop over time. Kids aren’t instinctively able to organize, plan, prioritize, or use self-control. These skills occur with age, time, and use.
But, for the child that struggles in any one area, so many tasks that require executive functioning skills suffer. As a result, we see problems with social-emotional skills, self-consciousness, frustration, anxiety, or more!
Executive functioning skills course for understanding executive function and strategies to help

Information on Executive Functioning Skills, right in your inbox!

So, if you are wondering about executive functioning skills…or want to know more about how executive functioning skills work together in learning and everyday activities…join us in the free 5-day executive functioning skills email course!
Understand executive functioning skills with this free executive functioning skills course.

A little more information on the executive functioning skills email course:

  1. This course is entirely email-based. All you have to do is open your email and read!
  2. You’ll discover the “why” behind executive functioning, what to do about impulsivity, tips and tools, and loads of resources related to executive functioning skills.
  3. We’ll cover impulse control, including how we use all of the executive functioning skills along with self-control and self-regulation strategies to “get stuff done”.
  4. This email course doesn’t have homework or tests. This mini-course is informative and low-key.
Take this free executive functioning skills course to understand self-control, attention, working memory, and more.
Enter your email in the form below to confirm your subscription to the email course and you’ll be on your way.
Disclaimer: This email mini-course does not provide continuing education units or professional development units. The course is not intended to treat or evaluate any executive functioning or impulse control needs. This mini-course is intended for information purposes only. The reader is responsible for any action or consequence as a result of strategies listed in the email mini-course or on this website. The OT Toolbox and it’s author are not responsible for any results of actions taken as a result of reading this website or it’s email or social media outlets.
Know someone who would be interested in this free executive functioning skills course? Share the images below and let them know!

Executive Functioning Information

Free email course on executive functioning skills
Understand executive functioning skills with this free email course for parents, teachers, and therapists
Take this free executive functioning skills course to understand attention, self-control, and other executive function skills
Improve executive functions with easy strategies after understanding what's happening behind behaviors and actions.

What is Impulse Control?

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what is impulse control

What is impulse control and what is normal development of impulsivity in child development?

Speaking out of turn. Pushing into a classmate in the bathroom line. Interrupting adult conversations. Grabbing a toy from a friend. Impulse control in kids can look like a lot of different things. But what is normal self-control in kids and what is considered impulsivity that interferes with social interactions and emotional wellness? Below we’re going to discuss what is impulse control and how to begin to work on impulsivity strategies so kids can succeed in learning and social situations. Helping kids learn impulse control can be tricky! It helps to understand what impulsivity looks like, what is normal development, and other considerations.

Impulse control is literally the ability to stop and think before acting, speaking, or responding to environmental stimulation.

You may want to check out this toolbox of tips on how to teach kids impulse control.

 
Helping kids with impulse control and self-control happens in normal child development. But when you think about what is impulse control and how to help kids with interactions, these impulsivity strategies can help!

What is impulse control?

The definition of Impulse control is as varied as we are as individuals. The thing is, we are all driven by different desires and internal ambitions. Impulse control generally refers to the ability to control oneself, especially one’s emotions and desires. The way these impulses present is expressed as actions, thoughts, behaviors and can occur in any situation but especially in difficult situations.

Here are easy ways to improve impulse control in kids.

Impulse control requires self-regulation, internal drive, coping strategies, and other internal skills in order to filter impulses as they present in various situations.

Impulse control disorder

In order to present with a diagnosis of an impulse control disorder, a set of specific symptoms and signs must be present. These specific symptoms vary depending on the individual and other factors such as developmental level, age, gender, internal drive, and other considerations. However, the signs and symptoms of impulse control disorder generally include different behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms. The specific diagnosing factors are not going to be discussed in this particular post but it is worth mentioning that these can present in many different ways. For example, some kids may have aggression, lying, stealing, risky behaviors, low self-esteem, irritability, impatience, and other presenting factors.

For more information on impulse control disorder and if you think this is a concern that should be addressed in an individual, please reach out to a physician.

Impulsivity definition

Medically speaking, the definition of impulsivity refers to an inclination to act on an impulse rather than a thought. Those of us who are generally impulsive in most situations, have difficulty curbing their immediate reactions or think before they act. This can look like the child that speaks without raising his hand in the classroom. It can be a hasty decision. It can be inappropriate comments.

Impulse control development

The thing is, impulse control is a HARD skill to refine. All of us have trouble with impulse control at one time or another! Think about that last time you received an unexpected bill. Maybe you grabbed a cookie or six to calm your nerves. What about when you ran over a pot hole and ended up with a flat tire on the freeway. Did an expletive escape your lips? Impulse control is hard when our minds and body’s are dealing with difficult situations.

The thing is, that we learn to deal with the everyday stuff without eating dozens of cookies or yelling obscenities at our car radio. We filter information, adjust to situations, and make behavioral, mental, and psychosocial responses accordingly.

How does development of impulse control happen?

Impulse control skills reside in the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain doesn’t fuly develop until we are in our twenties. It’s easy to see why impulsivity is such a common theme up through early adulthood!

Additionally, sensory modulation, emotions, outside situations, difficult environments, illness, stress, anxiety, and so many other issues can compound impulsive acts.

In fact, impulse control doesn’t begin to develop until around age 3.5- 4. 

We will be covering development of impulse control more thoroughly in an upcoming blog post.

What does impulse control look like?

We’ve talked about how impulse control looks so different for different people. We’ve covered the fact that different situations can bring about different impulsive responses.

The thing is, impulse control is so varied!

Here are some examples of impulse control in kids:

  • Keeping negative thoughts to oneself
  • Not saying exactly what one is thinking about in the moment
  • Controlling anger and using a coping strategy instead of physically acting out
  • Raising a hand instead of speaking out in the classroom
  • Standing in a line without pushing or shoving
  • Asking to join a friend’s game or activity instead of jumping right in
  • Asking to look at or share a toy instead of just taking it
  • Being patient when having to wait
  • Waiting for instructions on an assignment before starting right away
  • Resisting distractions in the classroom or while doing homework
  • Waiting until dessert to eat a sweet or special treat
  • Not giving up when things are hard

And these are just SOME examples!

Don’t forget to join us in this FREE email course on executive functioning skills and impulse control.

Stay tuned for more information on impulse control coming very soon. We’ve got some great resources and tools to share with you!

More impulse control activities and ideas you will love:

 How to Teach Kids Impulse Control


What is Modulation?


Easy Ways to Improve Impulse Control


Free Executive Functioning Skills Mini Course

Wondering what impulse control means and what impulsivity looks like in kids? Kids develop impulse control over time, but there are ways to help kids with impulse control!

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      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

      How to Teach Foresight

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      How to teach foresight

      You may be wondering how to teach foresight. Or, maybe you are wondering what foresight is and how it impacts functioning and executive functioning skills. Here, we’ll cover how to teach foresight and other important executive functioning skills through play.

      What is Foresight

      Foresight is the ability to predict future actions and the act of planning ahead as a result of forward thinking. Difficulty with foresight is a hallmark of those with executive function disorder, but it’s also an executive functioning skill that kids develop over time. Teaching foresight to kids can be easy with a few games and activities, and it can make a difference in strengthening this and other executive function skills.

      Helping kids to develop foresight can be a means for teaching consequences. we all have to make decisions with either good or bad results. Having foresight can help us predict and make a better choice!

      These executive functioning games and activities can help kids develop foresight and the ability to plan ahead with critical thinking.

       

      When a child learns to think using foresight, he or she will be able to more independent in tasks such as schoolwork, self-care, and safety in all situations.

      Teaching kids foresight helps with understanding consequences which kids need to practice, especially those with executive function disorder.

      How to Teach Foresight

      We’ve explained that foresight is an executive function skill. In fact, the ability to look ahead and use the skill to plan out a task or to accommodate for situations that may occur is an executive functioning skill that works so closely with other EF skills.

      Foresight is connected to other executive functioning skills such as planning and prioritization, impulse control, working memory, and attention for example.

      Here are strategies to help the adult with executive function disorder. Many of these tips and strategies are great for teens as well.

      Foresight in kids looks like:

      • Matching clothing to the weather when getting dressed
      • Thinking to bring an umbrella on a day that seems cloudy and grey
      • Having all materials needed for the classroom
      • Clearing the dinner table without being asked
      • Remembering to feed a family pet because he or she is always hungry at the same time each day…and alerting a parent when the pet food is almost gone
      • Looking both ways before crossing the street

      You can see that foresight is a skill used in everyday tasks, all day long!

      It’s important to recognize that foresight in kids is not a given. In the toddler years and preschool years, children have little foresight. They are very scattered in their thoughts and often do not think ahead or think of others. Toward the end of the preschool years and in early elementary years, foresight begins to develop.

      Development of Foresight

      Development of foresight continues to grow and strengthen but only through practice and repetition. In those with executive function disorder AND every typically developing child, practice and repetition of foresight is necessary.

      Below are activities and games to improve foresight and thinking ahead. Use these games and activities with those with executive function disorder and any child with whom would benefit from practicing foresight.

      Activities to Teach Foresight

      Amazon affiliate links are included in the list below.

      • Encourage self-talk. Kids can talk themselves through a difficult or complex task.
      • Teach kids to make lists.
      • Talk about what to take on a trip to the beach versus a trip to the mountains.
      • Play imagination games.
      • Talk about how to plan for emergencies.
      • Write down what happened at the end of the day. Note strategies or coping skills that worked and what didn’t work. (The Impulse Control Journal can help with this journaling on a daily basis.)
      • Discuss logical thinking in events or tasks- When you’re pretend games, encourage the child to ask themselves, “If I do this, then my we will do that.”
      • Talk about budgeting and saving money for things they would like to purchase.
      The Mastermind game is a great activity to teach foresight and a good toy to help with executive function disorder.
      • Play Mastermind– This game encourages thinking ahead to solve a code. There are only so many chances to guess the answer, and choosing pieces require foresight and insight.
      • Discuss everyday tasks with kids and talk about the steps that need to be done. This could include anything from washing dishes to feeding a pet.
      Use the game Clue Jr to The Mastermind game is a great activity to teach foresight and a good toy to help with executive function disorder. Teach executive functioning skills and work on things like foresight that is a challenge in executive function disorder b y playing the game Clue.
      • Play the game, Clue. Clue is a board game that encourages logical thinking and critical thinking to solve a mystery. For younger kids, try Clue Jr. to solve the mystery of who ate the missing piece of cake.
      • Build with blocks.
      Chutes and ladders is a game that teaches executive function skills like foresight and actions and consequences.
      • Play Chutes and Ladders– The game shows pictures of actions and consequences.
      • Tell stories that build on each other.
      • Play cause and effect games.
      Play the game Ticket to Ride to teach foresight and help with executive function disorder.
      • Play Ticket to Ride– In this board game, players must plan ahead for a certain trip and use foresight in practice to make decisions based on their game pieces, cards, and actions of other players.
      Remember Tetris? Use a tetris puzzle to teach kids executive functioning skills like foresight and a good toy to help with executive function disorder.
      • Play Tetris– This is the puzzle version of the old video game from our childhood but with a hands-on approach. Kids can look at the space available and use foresight to position various pieces while keeping other game pieces in mind.
      • Play checkers and chess.
      Monopoly is game to help with executive function disorder and executive functioning skills like foresight.
      • Play Monopoly– This game promotes foresight and the use of critical thinking skills to plan moves, purchases, and use of money.
      • Plan meals for the week.
      • Set goals and talk about how to reach those goals.
      • Try writing things down! The Impulse Control Journal is just the tool to help with outlining strategies that work and don’t work in decision making while strengthening executive functioning skills.

      More ways to work on executive functioning skills and those issues that present in executive function disorder:

      Try these activities to teach foresight, including critical thinking games like chess, monopoly, and other board games.
      Teaching kids about consequences requires foresight and the ability to use it in making decisions.

      Want to really take executive function skills like foresight to the next level of success? The Impulse Control Journal is your guide to addressing the underlying skills that play into trouble with planning and prioritization. 

      The journal is an 80 page collection of worksheets and prompts to discover what’s really going on behind executive functioning skills like planning, organization, prioritization, working memory, and of course, impulse control. 

      While the guide was developed for students of all ages, this printable workbook is perfect for adults, too. It can help you discover strategies that make a real impact for all of the skills needed to get things done. 

      Here’s the thing; Everyone is SO different when it comes to struggles related to executive functioning and everyone’s interests, needs, challenges, strengths, and weaknesses are different too. All of these areas play into the challenges we see on the surface. And, this is where the Impulse Control Journal really hits those strengths, weaknesses, and challenges where it matters…in creating a plan that really works for kids of all ages (and adults, too!)

      Check out the Impulse Control Journal, and grab it before the end of February, because you’ll get a bonus packet of Coping Cards while the journal is at it’s lowest price. 

       
      More about the Impulse Control Journal:
      • 30 Drawing Journal Pages to reflect and pinpoint individual strategies 
      • 28 Journal Lists so kids can write quick checklists regarding strengths, qualities, supports, areas of need, and insights 
      • 8 Journaling worksheets to pinpoint coping skills, feelings, emotions, and strategies that work for the individual 
      • Daily and Weekly tracking sheets for keeping track of tasks and goals 
      • Mindset, Vision, and Habit pages for helping kids make an impact
      • Self-evaluation sheets to self-reflect and identify when inhibition is hard and what choices look like 
      • Daily tracker pages so your child can keep track of their day 
      • Task lists to monitor chores and daily tasks so it gets done everyday  
      • Journal pages to help improve new habits  
      • Charts and guides for monitoring impulse control so your child can improve their self confidence
      • Strategy journal pages to help kids use self-reflection and self-regulation so they can succeed at home and in the classroom  
      • Goal sheets for setting goals and working to meet those goals while improving persistence  
      • Tools for improving mindset to help kids create a set of coping strategies that work for their needs  
      This is a HUGE digital resource that you can print to use over and over again.  
       
       

       

      Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE. 

      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

      Free Impulse Control Mini-Course

      by
      Impulse Control in Kids…Do you know a child who risks their safety by running across a busy street without looking…The child that impulsively hits, bits, or kicks others…The child in the classroom who is distracted to the point that they can’t focus or stay on task with classroom assignments…The child that blurts out answers or constantly interrupts…The child who lacks age-appropriate impulse control and is constantly not paying attention…
       
      Do any of these kids sound familiar? 
       
      Impulse control, or inhibition, refers to the ability to stop and think before acting. While impulse control can difficult for kids and adults of all ages (Hello cupcake sitting in the kitchen!), the inability to utilize critical thinking to consider consequences and use cognitive flexibility along with other executive functioning skills can be detrimental. 
       

      Impulse Control Mini-Course

       
      What if you could understand what’s happening beneath the surface when it comes to impulsivity in kids?
       
      What if you could understand WHY kids react impulsively in some situations?
       
      What if you had strategies that could be implemented right away and a tool for making those strategies have a real impact in the safety and functional skills of kids?
       
      It’s possible to get this better understanding of impulse control with our FREE email mini-course!
       
      This is a 4 day email series that covers all of the topics above plus more so that you can feel relief when strategies are implemented, resulting in tools for safer kids who use age-appropriate strategies for impulse control.
       
      Enter your email below to access the free impulse control mini-course and printable resources:
       

      Want to get in? Join us in this free email-mini course and you’ll gain: 


      Information on the “why” behind impulsive acts like hitting, running through a busy parking lot, biting, acting out, interrupting, or other impulse control issues.

      Actionable ways to help the child with self-control difficulties

      Strategies can be used to provide guidance in appropriate impulse control techniques

      Tips and tools for incorporating impulse control strategies into the classroom, home, or community for better learning, transitions, task completion, and safety


      Click here to join the free email mini-course on Impulse Control Strategies.


      Disclaimer: This email mini-course does not provide continuing education units or professional development units. The course is not intended to treat or evaluate any executive functioning or impulse control needs. This mini-course is intended for information purposes only. The reader is responsible for any action or consequence as a result of strategies listed in the email mini-course or on this website. The OT Toolbox and it’s author(s) are not responsible for any results of actions taken as a result of reading this website or it’s email or social media outlets.


      See you in the Impulse Control email mini-course! 

      Know a child who struggles with impulse control, attention, working memory or other executive functions?Let’s talk about what’s going on behind those impulses!​
      FREE Email Mini-Course      ​
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        We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
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        Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

        Executive Functioning Resources on Therapy Thursday

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        executive functioning resources

        Below, you will find a collection of executive functioning resources and tools for improving executive functioning skills that can be used in the home, school, therapy clinic, or anywhere!

        Use these executive functioning resources to improve and develop executive functioning skills at home or in the classroom.
         

        This week, we’re about Executive Functioning Skills!

        If you follow The OT Toolbox, then you know we have a lot of resources on executive functioning skills. In fact, we even have an Executive Functioning Skills Toolbox Facebook Page! (Follow along for lots of resources curated from around the web!)

        Here are strategies to help the adult with executive function disorder. Many of these tips and strategies are great for teens as well.

        Let’s start at the beginning:

        What are Executive Functioning Skills?

        Executive Functioning Skills guide everything we do, from making decisions, to staying on track with an activity, to planning and prioritizing a task.  The ability to make a decision, plan it out, and act on it without being distracted is what allows us to accomplish the most mundane of tasks to the more complicated and multi-step actions.

        Children with executive functioning issues will suffer in a multitude of ways.

        Some kids have many deficits in EF and others fall behind in several or all areas. _Everyone_ needs to develop and build executive functions as they grow.  Functional adults may still be struggling with aspects of executive functioning skills. These cognitive skills are an interconnected web of processing that allows for self-regulation, planning, organization, and memory.

        Executive Functioning Skills are essential for learning, behavior, and development.  All of these skills work together and impact other areas.

        Executive Functioning Skills include:

        • Emotional Control
        • Task Initiation
        • Task Completion
        • Working Memory
        • Planning
        • Prioritizing
        • Processing Speed
        • Organization
        • Attention
        • Self-Monitoring
        • Impulse Control
        • Cognitive Flexibility
        • Foresight
        • Hindsight
        • Self-Talk
        • Problem Solving
        • Persistence
        • Shift

        Executive functioning skills development begins at a very early age. Click here to read more about executive functioning skill development.

        Resources for Improving Executive Functioning Skills

        Executive functions are heavily dependent on attention.  Read about the attention and executive functioning skill connection and the impact of attention on each of the executive functioning skills that children require and use every day.

        Check out these fun games to help improve executive function skills.

        Another area of interest to you might be the impact executive functioning skills have on handwriting.

        Here are strategies for improving task initiation.

        Read about tips for improving working memory.

        Here are tons of tips for addressing organization issues at home or in school. These are great for younger kids through adult!

         
        Here are many activities and loads of information on improving attention in kids.
         
        Helping kids with impulse control can be a big challenge! Here are tips that can help.
         
         
        That’s why I created The Impulse Control Journal.

        The Impulse control journal is a printable journal for kids that helps them to identify goals, assess successes, and address areas of needs.  The Impulse Control Journal is a printable packet of sheets that help kids with impulse control needs.

        Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE. 

        The Impulse Control Journal has been totally revamped to include 79 pages of tools to address the habits, mindset, routines, and strategies to address impulse control in kids. 
        •  
        •  
          
        This is a HUGE digital resource that you can print to use over and over again.  
         

         

         
         
         
         
         
        Try these executive functioning resources to improve executive function in kids.

        Executive Function Resources

        Here are some accessible and user-friendly resources that can be beneficial for individuals, including students and professionals in the field of occupational therapy, to learn more about executive functioning:

        1. Understood.org – Executive Functioning Issues:
          • Website: Understood.org
          • Description: Understood.org provides articles, videos, and practical tips on understanding and supporting individuals with executive functioning challenges.
        2. CHADD – Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder:
          • Website: CHADD
          • Description: CHADD offers resources on ADHD and executive functioning, including articles, webinars, and support groups. Their resources are helpful for both professionals and parents.
        3. Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare:
          • Book: Smart but Scattered (Amazon affiliate link)
          • Description: This book provides practical strategies for improving executive skills in children and adolescents. It’s written in an accessible style, making it useful for parents, educators, and therapists.
        4. The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens by Sharon A. Hansen:
          • Book: The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens (Amazon affiliate link)
          • Description: Geared towards teenagers, this workbook offers engaging activities and exercises to develop executive functioning skills. It can be a helpful resource for both therapists and teens.
        5. ADDitude Magazine:
          • Website: ADDitude Magazine
          • Description: ADDitude Magazine provides articles, webinars, and expert advice on various topics related to ADHD and executive functioning. It’s a valuable resource for staying informed on the latest research and strategies.
        6. National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) – Executive Function 101:
          • Ebook: Executive Function 101
          • Description: NCLD’s Executive Function 101 article offers an overview of executive functioning and practical tips for supporting individuals with executive function challenges.

        These resources are designed to be accessible to a broad audience, and that means that the supports or suggestions won’t be appropriate for every individual. They provide a foundation for understanding and implementing strategies to enhance executive functioning skills.

        Know a child who struggles with impulse control, attention, working memory or other executive functions?Let’s talk about what’s going on behind those impulses!​
        FREE Email Mini-Course        ​
        ​

        ​
        ​

          We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
          Built with ConvertKit

          Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

          More about the Impulse Control Journal:

          • 30 Drawing Journal Pages to reflect and pinpoint individual strategies 
          • 28 Journal Lists so kids can write quick checklists regarding strengths, qualities, supports, areas of need, and insights 
          • 8 Journaling worksheets to pinpoint coping skills, feelings, emotions, and strategies that work for the individual 
          • Daily and Weekly tracking sheets for keeping track of tasks and goals 
          • Mindset, Vision, and Habit pages for helping kids make an impact
          • Self-evaluation sheets to self-reflect and identify when inhibition is hard and what choices look like 
          • Daily tracker pages so your child can keep track of their day 
          • Task lists to monitor chores and daily tasks so it gets done everyday  
          • Journal pages to help improve new habits  
          • Charts and guides for monitoring impulse control so your child can improve their self-confidence  
          • Strategy journal pages to help kids use self-reflection and self-regulation so they can succeed at home and in the classroom  
          • Goal sheets for setting goals and working to meet those goals while improving persistence  
          • Tools for improving mindset to help kids create a set of coping strategies that work for their needs

          Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE. 

          What is Executive Function in Child Development

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          Childhood development occurs naturally and at an extremely fast rate. When wondering what is executive function in child development, this breakdown of executive functioning skills development will help explain how children develop in attention, impulsivity, attention, and other executive function skills.

          As a newborn is held and snuggled, development is happening. One aspect of development that occurs throughout childhood and even as an adult are executive functioning skills. When you consider what is executive functioning skills, you might think that the development of these essential skills happen later in childhood and in the teen years. However, the baseline of executive functioning skills occurs in infancy! In this article, you will find information on the development of executive functioning skills as well as identifying red flags for problems with executive functioning skill development.

          When wondering what is executive function in child development, this breakdown of executive functioning skills development will help parents and teachers understand how children develop in attention, impulsivity, attention, and other executive function skills.
           

          Executive Functioning Skills in Child Development

          Studies have shown that executive functioning development in childhood occurs in different contexts for different age ranges and in a general process. Executive functioning skills are a set of abilities that are essential for thinking through and completing tasks. They are the skills that allow us to problem solve, initiate and complete tasks, and sustain attention through the completion of a task. Executive functioning skills are necessary for tasks such as getting dressed and ready for the day, completing homework, or making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They are needed for every multi-step activity we do!

          Here are more executive functioning resources to fill your therapy toolbox!


          Here are strategies to help the adult with executive function disorder. Many of these tips and strategies are great for teens as well. 

          There are many sub-areas that make up executive functioning skills.

          Executive function skills are present in our cognition:
          Working memory
          Planning
          Organization
          Time management
          Metacognition

          Executive function skills are present in our behaviors:
          Response inhibition
          Emotional control
          Sustained attention
          Task initiation
          Goal persistence
          Flexibility

          You can read more about executive functioning skills as well as find activities to promote executive functioning skills here on The OT Toolbox.

          You might be interested in games to help improve executive function skills.

          Development of Executive Functioning Skills

          Aspects of executive functioning skills are developed from a very young age.  The skills are then extended and further developed throughout childhood and into the teen years. Executive functioning skills continue to develop in adulthood.

          Executive Functioning Skill Development in Infancy

          The following executive functioning skills begin development at 6-12 months of age:
          Response inhibition- This skill is not an obvious one, but includes “stranger danger” when a baby responds to one adult but not another.
          Working Memory- Babies begin to recognize familiar faces. They recall and remember those familiar faces utilizing working memory. They are able to store that information and retrieve it when they see a face. Attachment that begins in the infancy stages of life also are influenced by working memory. Favorite toys and soothing items such as preferred pacifiers, blankets, and soothing positions are influenced by working memory.
          Emotional Control- While it is true that infants do not have the ability to control their emotions, this is a skill that is just beginning to develop as babies are able to be settled down by certain individuals they are familiar with. Attachment and responding to one adult but not another is influenced by the initial development of emotional control as infants feel safe and loved by members of their family.
          Attention- This executive functioning skill begins as an infant is able to make eye contact and follow objects with their eyes. Attention is developed greatly in the first year. Consider the length of time a 12 month old can sustain attention on a preferred toys in in play.

          Executive Functioning Skill Development from 12-24 months

          Flexibility is a skill that develops greatly during these months. While the ability to inhibit impulses, sustain attention, control emotions, and utilize flexibility in thought are very low at this age, they do develop in relation by the second year of life. Working Memory, emotional control, attention, task initiation, and goal persistence develop throughout the second year of life. Much of this development occurs through play.

          Executive Functioning Skill Development in the Preschool Years

          In preschool, children are able to run simple errands using working memory, sustained attention, and goal persistence. They are able to clean a room with help, clean up their plate, get dressed, and begin to inhibit behaviors. Preschool aged children can understand and recall instructions such as “Don’t touch the stove”, “We don’t push”, “We share toys”, etc.

          Executive Functioning Skill Development in Kindergarten through Second Grade

          In these years of schooling, children are able to follow 2-3 step errands such as cleaning a room independently, simple chores, and multiple step grooming and dressing tasks.

          Executive functioning skill development in grades 3-5

          In this stage of childhood, children are able to complete multiple step tasks and maintain sustained attention. They are able to read and follow chapter books that require extended working memory and pick up on projects that require sustained attention and goal persistence. Flexibility is further improved.

          Executive functioning skill development in grades 6-8

          In this stage, a child’s working memory develops as they are able to complete more complex tasks.They are able to perform multiple step math and word problems toward the end of this age range. Critical thinking improves between the ages of 6 and 8. Students exhibit increasing impulse control in the school environment and other places where rules are in place.

           

          Executive function skill development in grades 9-12

          Executive functioning skills are increasingly developed in the high school years. Emotional regulation, response inhibition, goal persistence, flexibility, sustained attention are all related to the behavioral response of persisting, initiating, and completing tasks. We can see a big difference between the high school freshman  and the high school senior in behavior and all of the these executive functioning skills relate to behaviors and the act of “doing” skills. In this stage, students typically demonstrate and increasing ability to plan and complete multiple step tasks while generally performing less risky behavior as they progress toward the higher end of this stage.

          Executive functioning skills related to cognition are also greatly impacted during these years. Planning, organization, time management, and metacognition are developed and then refined in these years.

          Executive functioning skill development age 18-20

          Executive functioning skills are greatly developed during the ages of 18 through 20. Skills enable the ability to maintain a working schedule and perform the requirements of jobs, friendship, and family. Task initiation, persistence, emotional regulation, metacognition, planning, organization, and goal persistence are greatly refined. In this stage we can see the student heading off to college who needs to incorporate these skills independently in order to multi-task and complete the requirements of a job, schooling, or both.

          Executive skill development in adulthood

          As adults, we continue to refine executive functioning skills. While distractions are a fact of life, we are able to maintain sustained attention while fending off those distractions. We are able to maintain several schedules, a job, tasks of the home, responsibilities, and those of children and family. In this stage of life, we are able to to understand and seek out tools for making executive functioning skills easier such as planners, organization strategies, minimizing of distractions, calendars, etc.

          Looking to build executive functioning skills?  Follow our new Executive Functioning Toolbox Facebook Page for strategies, ideas, and tools to help build executive function.

          More tools for addressing attention in kids

          There are so many strategies to address attention in kids and activities that can help address attention needs. One tactic that can be a big help is analyzing precursors to behaviors related to attention and addressing underlying needs. 

          The Attention and Sensory Workbook can be a way to do just that. 

          The Attention and Sensory Workbook is a free printable resource for parents, teachers, and therapists. It is a printable workbook and includes so much information on the connection between attention and sensory needs. 

          Here’s what you can find in the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 

          • Includes information on boosting attention through the senses
          • Discusses how sensory and learning are connected
          • Provides movement and sensory motor activity ideas
          • Includes workbook pages for creating movement and sensory strategies to improve attention

          A little more about the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 


          Sensory processing is the ability to register, screen, organize, and interpret information from our senses and the environment. This process allows us to filter out some unnecessary information so that we can attend to what is important. Kids with sensory challenges often time have difficulty with attention as a result.

          It’s been found that there is a co-morbidity of 40-60% of ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder. This workbook is an actionable guide to help teachers, therapists, and parents to help kids boost attention and focus in the classroom by mastering sensory processing needs. 

          You will find information on the sensory system and how it impacts attention and learning. There are step-by-step strategies for improving focus, and sensory-based tips and tricks that will benefit the whole classroom.

          The workbook provides tactics to address attention and sensory processing as a combined strategy and overall function. There are charts for activities, forms for assessment of impact, workbook pages for accommodations, and sensory strategy forms.

           
          Grab the Attention and Sensory Workbook below.
           

           

          Attention and sensory workbook activities for improving attention in kids
          When wondering what is executive function in child development, this breakdown of executive functioning skills development will help parents and teachers understand how children develop in attention, impulsivity, attention, and other executive function skills.

          FREE Attention & Sensory Workbook

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            Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

            Easy Impulse Control Strategies

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            easy tips for impulse control

            Here, you’ll find easy impulse control strategies. Use these tips and activities along with other resources on improving impulse control skills: These impulse control activities and how to teach impulse control. Use those resources in combination with the impulsivity tips in this post as intervention strategies for impulsive behavior.

            Here on the site, we’ve shared a lot of information related to impulse control.  This executive functioning skill is essential for most daily tasks!  When kids struggle with prioritization, planning, time management, persistence, then impulse control can suffer.  

            Likewise, difficulties with sensory processing, modulation, or direction following can limit a child’s ability to utilize self-control in order to inhibit their impulses.  

            Easy Impulse Control Strategies

            These easy ways to improve impulse control are quick tips and tricks that can help kids address impulsivity. 

            tips to help kids with impulse control

            Easy Ways to Improve Impulse Control



            ▪ Use those real life situations to assess what worked, what didn’t work, and talk about it! Sometimes looking at a big picture can help kids.

            ▪ Research tells us that as the day progresses, it is harder for us to maintain and utilize self-control. Make smaller goals later in the day.

            ▪ Encouraging statements can boost and rally! Use imagery to picture successes in typical situations. Find an encouraging statement that really speaks to the child and ask them to repeat it, sing it, and dance to it! Get silly to make it stick in their minds.

            ▪ Rest, a healthy diet, enough sleep, physical exercise, and time of day all make a difference in willpower. The interoceptive system is a powerful sensory system when it comes to impulse control.

            ▪ Physical exercise also leads to changes in the function and structure of the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. Regular exercise such as mindful exercises like yoga and stretching as well as intense cardiovascular exercise helps us become more resilient to stress.

            ▪ Teach kids how to manage stress. When we experience stress, it means that our body’s energy is used up and we act instinctively. Decisions made under stress are often times based on short-term outcomes.

            ▪ Self-control and reining in those impulses requires monitoring. This includes keeping track of your thoughts, feelings and actions in any given situation. Help kids monitor their actions with quick self-checks.

            ▪ Write down the rules. A prerequisite to impulse control includes a knowledge of standards. These personal and assumed guidelines steer us in the “right direction” of following rules. This might include classroom rules, society’s rules, rules of communication, personal standards, and moral guidelines. For the child with sensory processing challenges, communication difficulties, executive functioning issues, these standards can be very difficult to perceive and know! It can be very stressful for these children to know there are rules, but they don’t know exactly what they are.

            Easy Impulse Control Tips

            The impulse control strategies listed above are techniques and tips that can help kids gain control of impulsivity. While development of self-control skills happens gradually and over time, the strategies for controlling impulses can be used to help kids develop self-control necessary for managing impulse control in a variety of settings.

            Reaching impulse control strategies to kids doesn’t need to be boring or repetitive. While the number one strategy for helping kids become more aware of impulsivity in order to gain self-control is listed below, there are actually several more tools for impulse control that can help kids master their impulse control skills  (at least on an age-appropriate level of expectation).

            1. Practice- This is the biggest technique for working on impulse control in kids. Because self-control is a skill that develops over time, going over (and over) those skills can make all the difference.
            2. Self regulation- We’ve talked about the connection between impulse control and sensory processing. The ability to inhibit an impulse can be exacerbated by emotions. Have strategies in place to self-regulate can make impulse control all the easier. There’s more;  When kids  act impulsively in an emotional situation, but then afterwards can explain what they should have done instead, they lack the self-regulation to notice in the moment what is happening. The ability to figure out in the moment that a sense of overwhelming thoughts or feelings are building requires self-regulation skills.
            3. Mindfulness- Being aware of yourself and the world around you allows a person to focus on an awareness as opposed to emotions. Mindfulness is a strategy to improve impulse control by allowing us to control and handle our emotions as they are happening. This is a technique that takes practice (There’s that p word again!)
            4. Stop and think- Teach a stop and think game to stop the action, activity, or conversation and pause to think about emotions and how the body feels. This is a way to stop and slow down to check in with themselves before impulsive actions happen.
            5. Work through distractions- Sometimes, kids become so distracted by things happening in the classroom or out in the hallway that impulsive actions happen during those distracted moments. Science has found a link between impulse control and working memory, which is an important part of focus that lacks during periods of distraction.
            6. Model good examples- Talking through examples and showing kids how to respond to common problems through modeling is one impulse control strategy that can make a big impact. By modeling and walking through a common self-control issue, kids can see exactly how to use other techniques in the moment. It’s a great way to problem solve and strategize together.
            7. Make it fun! Games- Games that encourage delayed gratification or require a child to stop in the moment can be a good tool for practicing impulse control. Some examples include Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, or other turn-taking games.
            8. Think of others- The ability to empathize plays a big part in impulse control. In fact, our ability to control our impulses and empathy are actually housed in the same part of the brain. The thing is though, that the part of the brain with impulse control and empathy reside is the last part of the brain to fully mature. The pre-frontal cortex doesn’t fully develop until our early twenties. But despite developmental considerations of development, we can promote impulse control by working on empathy. How would we feel if someone did a specific action against us? It can be helpful to ask kids specific questions that bring empathy and impulse control into light.

            Some questions to inspire kids to think of others when it comes to impulsivity include:

            • How do you think a friend feels when you take a toy from them?
            • How would you like a friend to ask to play with you?
            • How can you ask a friend to play that would make them feel good and not bad?
            • How would you feel if a friend took a toy that you were playing with?

            6. More practice- Finally, we come back to the first strategy on the list…practice! Take the opportunity to practice all of the strategies and techniques on this list. It will make a big difference!


            These strategies are easy to address but can sometimes not carryover well into typical daily tasks.  

            That’s why I created The Impulse Control Journal.

            The Impulse Control Journal is a printable journal for kids that helps them to identify goals, assess successes, and address areas of needs.  The Impulse Control Journal is a printable packet of sheets that help kids with impulse control needs.


            Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE. 

            The Impulse Control Journal has been totally revamped to include 79 pages of tools to address the habits, mindset, routines, and strategies to address impulse control in kids. 

            More about the Impulse Control Journal:

            • 30 Drawing Journal Pages to reflect and pinpoint individual strategies 
            • 28 Journal Lists so kids can write quick checklists regarding strengths, qualities, supports, areas of need, and insights 
            • 8 Journaling worksheets to pinpoint coping skills, feelings, emotions, and strategies that work for the individual 
            • Daily and Weekly tracking sheets for keeping track of tasks and goals 
            • Mindset,Vision, and Habit pages for helping kids make an impact 
            • Self-evaluation sheets to self-reflect and identify when inhibition is hard and what choices look like 
            • Daily tracker pages so your child can keep track of their day 
            • Task lists to monitor chores and daily tasks so it gets done everyday  
            • Journal pages to help improve new habits  
            • Charts and guides for monitoring impulse control so your child can improve their self-confidence  
            • Strategy journal pages to help kids use self-reflection and self-regulation so they can succeed at home and in the classroom  
            • Goal sheets for setting goals and working to meet those goals while improving persistence  
            • Tools for improving mindset to help kids create a set of coping strategies that work for their needs  

            This is a HUGE digital resource that you can print to use over and over again.

            Impulse control journal by The OT Toolbox

                Read more about The Impulse Control Journal HERE.         

            The impulse control journal is perfect for kids who:

            • Grab items from other kids 
            • Lack a sense of personal boundaries 
            • Show poor self-regulation of emotions and sensory input 
            • Have difficulties with delayed gratification 
            • Struggle with carryover of impulsivity strategies into general situations 
            • Interrupt others or act out in the classroom

            Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

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