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.

• Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire (BSCQ)

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

ACTIVITIES

• Family Code: Values & Impulsive Behavior Activity

  Engage young people in a values and impulse control exercise by building your Family Code. Youth are more likely to say 'no' to risky behavior when they know their own values and how their family expects them to act when faced with tempting situations.

• 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.

• Impulse control

  Activities to teach kids how to control their impulses.

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.

• Educationl 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.

LINKS

• International Society for Research on Impulsivity

  The International Society for Research on Impulsivity is a nonprofit scientific society founded to promote research collaboration on impulsivity and impulse control disorders by scientists around the world.

• 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.

• S.T.A.R

  How to smile , take a deep breath and relax.

• Self-control

  What is it, and how do we address it?

READING & RESEARCH

• Family

  How to have meaningful family meetings 

• Impulse control and children 

  How to teach this to your kids.

• Self-regulation 

  Understanding this behavior.

• 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 Scale

  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

• International Society for Research on Impulsivity

  The International Society for Research on Impulsivity is a nonprofit scientific society founded to promote research collaboration on impulsivity and impulse control disorders by scientists around the world.

• 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.

LINKS

• 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.

• Melt or freeze?

  An impulse control worksheet and resource

• Being impulsive 

  Watch to understand what this means, and how we can regulate it.