02/17/2025
Does your child or adolescent struggle with Self-Control (e.g., difficulty with acting out, listening, waiting, respecting others, staying focused, etc.)? Research and Evidence-Based studies indicate that increasing self-control involves strategies such as:
🔹 Cognitive Reframing – Help children reframe impulsive thoughts (e.g., “I want it now!” → “Waiting will help me get something better”). (Duckworth & Carlson, 2013).
🔹 Mindful Breathing – Teaching deep breathing techniques (e.g., “breathe in for four seconds, hold for 4 seconds, out for four counts”) can help manage impulses. (Felver et al., 2016).
🔹 Card Games (e.g., Uno, Go Fish, Memory) – Encourage turn-taking, patience, and strategy. (Diamond & Lee, 2011).
🔹 Use Small Rewards to Teach Waiting – Start with short delays before giving a reward and gradually extend the wait time. (Mischel et al., 2011).
🔹 Token Systems or Reward Charts – Provide incentives for demonstrating self-control (e.g., earning stickers, time-limited video games, playing checkers with parent, etc. for staying calm). (Skinner, 1953).
🔹 Model Self-Control – Parents MUST model patience and impulse control in daily interactions that they expect...they are watching and learning from you (Skinner, 1953).
