Impulse Control for Kids: Dealing With Stress
This session includes impulse control activities for kids, helping students notice stress early and use their Self-Controller to make good decisions under pressure. They watch a short video, then discuss the signals in their body that show it is time to use a calming strategy before the stress grows. A quick game invites students to take turns naming things they can do when they feel stressed. Along the way, they practice saying how they feel and asking for what they need, like help, more time, or another chance.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Using Your Self-Controller
- Grade level
- Elementary School
Get everything you need to teach the skill
These materials are part of a no-prep session designed by our clinical team, with all the structure, scaffolding, and support you need to teach included.
Engaging materials
Video modeling lessonDealing With Stress
Learn how to make good decisions under pressure by relaxing with a calming strategy; saying how you feel; and requesting what you need, such as help, more time, another chance or an easier option.
- Extension activity
Let's Be Flexible Discussion Lesson
SELF-CONTROL PACKET Activity 2 "Let's Be Flexible Discussion Lesson" - In this activity, the goal is to identify when you feel rigid and how to be more flexible when something changes unexpectedly.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: Hot Cocoa Breathing2:05
- Video: Daily Intention2:59
- Video: Body Squeeze2:12
Session Opener
Guiding Question: What does it mean to keep self-control?
Practice
- Discussion Question
- Role-Play Activity
- Mini Game
How to use it with your students
- 1Watch Play the video modeling lesson so students see the skill in action.
- 2Practice Try the skill together with a discussion prompt, role-play, or mini game.
- 3Extend Use the extension activity to help students carry the skill further.
What's Covered
In this lesson, students learned how to handle stressful moments by noticing what their body felt like and using a calming strategy early. They practiced naming how they felt and asking for what they needed, like more time or a little help.
Key Terms
- Calming Strategy
- Something you do to shrink a big feeling, like taking slow breaths, walking to a calm spot, or tensing then relaxing your muscles. You use it when you notice a strong feeling starting so it doesn't get too big.
- Self-Control
- Noticing a strong feeling and staying calm instead of letting it take over. You take a breath or ask for help so the feeling does not run the moment.
Sample IEP Goal This Session Supports
-
Using Your Self-Controller
Learner will use their Self-Controller to manage stress responses when triggers arise (e.g., unexpected changes, transitions away from preferred activities) by recognizing stress signals and applying a self-selected strategy before reacting in 4 out of 5 opportunities independently/given X prompt(s).
Send this tip home to support generalization
At home or in the classroom, when a student seems stressed, invite them to use their Self-Controller Scanner to check in with their body and brain and notice what they need.
Ready to teach Dealing With Stress?
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More Self-Regulation Activities
Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on Dealing With Stress is free. You can access this intervention free for 14 days through the Everyday Speech Session Library. Every user gets three free sessions, but you can get more or extend your access by sharing the Session Library with friends and colleagues.
What ages is this for?
These materials are designed for elementary school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on Dealing With Stress, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Let's Be Flexible Discussion Lesson.
What skill does this intervention teach?
This ready-to-teach session is on self-regulation - more specifically, using your self-controller.
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