Impulse Control for Teens: When the Little Things Feel Big
This session includes impulse control activities for teens, helping older students notice how small stressors pile up and check in before stress takes over. They watch a short video, discuss why little things start to feel large, and break down a short interaction step by step to spot where it went off track. The goal is catching stress signals early and choosing a strategy that helps them feel ready.
Extension activity
- Skill
- Self-Regulation
- Goal
- Using Your Self-Controller
- Grade level
- Middle & High 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 lessonWhen the Little Things Feel Big
In this video, students learn how small stressors build up and practice using the Self-Controller Scanner to reset.
- Extension activity
Using Your Self-Controller
In this interactive module of Moonwalk, students build self-control by answering questions to progress through engaging gameplay.
Plus everything you need to teach them
Warm-up
- Video: 4-7-8 Breathing2:13
- Video: Obstacles into Opportunities Visualization1:19
- Video: Yoga Pose Library
Session Opener
Guiding Question: Why might small stressors start to feel big?
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 small stressors can pile up until everything starts to feel big. They practiced using the Self-Controller Scanner to pause and check in with their body, their feelings, and their thoughts. They also worked on naming what was bothering them and sorting out what they could actually change from what they could not.
Key Terms
- Self-Controller Scanner
- Using your Self-Controller means noticing early signs of strong emotions and choosing strategies before reacting, so you can respond in a safe way.
- Stress Signals
- The warning signs in your body and thoughts that show stress is building, like a racing heart, tense muscles, or a thought like "I can't handle this." Noticing them early gives you time to use a calming strategy before stress takes over.
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 by several small things, try helping them sort what they can and cannot control. Then guide them in choosing which stressors to focus on first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is this intervention free?
Yes, this ready-to-teach session on When the Little Things Feel Big 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 middle and high school students.
What's included?
You'll get access to your choice of warm-up videos, a session opener, a core material on When the Little Things Feel Big, three practice prompts, and an extension activity, Using Your Self-Controller.
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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