Impulse Control

Impulse: a strong urge to do something

Impulsive: acting without thinking

Impulse Control: the ability to think before acting; to resist the desire to say or do something before you’ve had the opportunity to think about and evaluate the consequences of the behavior.  

• Self-Control Assessment

  Take a quiz to determine how much self-control you have.

• UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Survey + UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale Scoring by Science of Behavior Change

  Take a formal assessment to determine your level and type of impulsive behavior with the Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) Scale.

• Brief Situational Confidence Quiestionnaire (BSCQ)

  Assess your confidence level in eight different situations that could tempt someone to engage in substance use or compulsive behavior. 

ACTIVITIES

• Self-Talk & Impulse Control Activity

  Engage young people in a discussion about their self-talk. First, ask them what they say to them selves when triggered to engage in a behavior that may go against their values. Second, ask if their self-talk generates positive or negative feelings. Last, challenge them to create a new self-talk mantra that may increase positive feelings and impulse control. 

• Marshmallow Test Podcast

  Listen to a short NPR podcast about the Marshmallow test.

• Why Teens Are Impulsive

  Listen to a NPR podcast about the why teenagers are more impulsive.

LINKS

• Ways to Teach Children Impulse Control

  Impulse Control Techniques That Work for Children by Amy Morin, LCSW from Very Well Family.

• Development and Impulsivity

  Article from Scholastic.com about impulsivity at different developmental stages and ways to encourage self-control.

• Educational Videos for Children

  An educational channel that is designed to help parents, teachers, counselors, etc. to reduce certain behaviors that, although common at an early age, need to be tested with children to develop learning about how to avoid them.

• 12 Games to Teach Self-Control

  Self-control games from Paths to Success for elementary and middles school children.

ORGANIZATIONS

• ADDitude Mag

  Since 1998, tens of millions of readers have trusted ADDitude to deliver expert advice and caring support, making us the leading media network for parents and adults living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

• The OT Toolbox

  Function and occupation-centered resources, tools, ideas, and activities geared toward the development of fine motor movement, executive functioning, attention, and organization skills.

READING & RESEARCH

• Nurtureshock

  NutureShock: New Thinking About Children (2011) by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

• Mindfulness Activities for Kids with ADHD

  Mindfulness Activities for Kids with ADHD: Engaging Stories and Exercises to Help You Learn And Thrive, 2021, by Dr Sharon Grand and illustrated Taia Morley

• Impulse Control Workbook - Elementary

  Impulse Control Activities & Worksheets for Elementary Students Pap/Com Edition, 2009 by Tonia Caselman 

• Impulse Control Workbook - Middle

  Impulse Control Activities & Worksheets for Elementary Students Pap/Com Edition, 2009 by Tonia Caselman 

• Impulse Control Disorders

  People who have impulse control disorders cannot avoid doing things that might bring harm to themselves or others. Learn more in this article.

Impulse: a strong urge to do something

Impulsive: acting without thinking

Impulse Control: the ability to think before acting; to resist the desire to say or do something before you’ve had the opportunity to think about and evaluate the consequences of the behavior. 

• Self-Control Assessment

  Take a quiz to determine how much self-control you have.

• UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Survey + UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale Scoring by Science of Behavior Change

  Take a formal assessment to determine your level and type of impulsive behavior with the Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) Scale.

• Brief Situational Confidence Quiestionnaire (BSCQ)

  Assess your confidence level in eight different situations that could tempt someone to engage in substance use or compulsive behavior. 

ACTIVITIES

• My Code: Values & Impulsive Behavior Activity

  Build your own code of ethics to help develop impulse control by engaging in a values brainstorm activity.

• Self-Talk & Impulse Control

  Analyze your impulse control self-talk. First, ask yourself what you say to yourself when triggered to engage in a behavior that may go against your values. Second, ask if your self-talk generates positive or negative feelings. Last, challenge yourself to create a new self-talk mantra that may increase positive feelings and impulse control. 

• Watch Pass it On Videos

  Watch Pass It On videos to inspire your values creation.

LINKS

• Rocket Kids YouTube Channel

  We make videos for kids, by kids. Our tips, lists, and lessons are used by teachers and parents, reminding us of what it takes to reach our full potential and be our best self.

• Practical Psychology Tube Channel

  Practical Psychology is dedicated to giving high-quality and informative videos to everyone who wishes to learn.

• Impulsive Eddie Ages 8 - 12

  Impulsive Eddie: The Fun Impulse Control Game for Kids a fun way to teach children ages 8-12 about controlling their impulses and learning self-control skills.

ORGANIZATIONS

• Pass It On

• The Foundation for a Better Life creates public service campaigns to communicate the values that make a difference in our communities on the Pass It On website.

READINGS & RESEARCH

• Impulse Control & Self-Talk

  Tullett, M. The voice of self-control: Blocking the inner voice increases impulsive responding,

  Acta Psychologica, Vol 135, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 252-256, ISSN 0001-6918, 10.1016/j.actpsy.2010.07.008.

• Pass It On Radio

  Get inspired by listening to radio, reading newspaper, or creating your own billboard public service announcements about people acting within their values to improve the community.

• What Should Danny Do? Ages 4 -7

  What Should Danny Do? (The Power to Choose Series) Hardcover – Illustrated, 2017

• What Were You Thinking? Ages 6 - 9

  What Were You Thinking?: Learning to Control Your Impulses Paperback – 2016 by Bryan Smith