Impulse Control Facilitator Guide Impulse Control Fun
8-Week Series Facilitator Guide
Target Grade 2nd Grade
Objective
This series engages students in interactive activities designed to improve impulse control and decision-making skills. Students learn to "think before they act" to develop essential self-regulation for academic and personal growth.
Required Materials
Post-it notes
Markers
Worksheets
Parent Handouts
The 8-Week Journey
Week 1: Understanding Impulse Control
30 Mins
ASCA: M 1. Belief in development of whole self.
Introduce the concept: Why is it important to stop and think?
Video: Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?Discussion: What does it mean to have impulse control? Can you think of a time when you acted without thinking? How did it turn out?
Week 2: Self-Regulation Techniques
30 Mins
ASCA: B-SMS 2. Demonstrate self-discipline and self-control.
Teach breathing exercises as a "remote control" for the body.
Video: Self-Regulation Song For KidsActivity: Practice deep breathing and stretching.Discussion: How do you feel after doing breathing exercises?
Week 3: Building Resilience
30 Mins
ASCA: M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed.
Focus on managing fear and challenges.
Video: Keeping Calm - Building Resilience with Hunter and EveDiscussion: What does it mean to be resilient? Share a time you had to be brave.
Week 4: Managing Anger
30 Mins
ASCA: B-SMS 7. Demonstrate effective coping skills.
Discuss emotional control when "hot" feelings take over.
Video: Story: The Fish and His Puffy TemperActivity: Role-play scenarios to practice managing anger.
Week 5: Meditation and Mindfulness
30 Mins
ASCA: B-SMS 10. Manage transitions and adapt.
Introduce meditation as a tool for self-soothing.
Video: Butterfly Hug: 6-Minute Self-Soothing MeditationActivity: Group practice of the Butterfly Hug.
Week 6: Coping Skills
30 Mins
ASCA: B-SMS 6. Ability to overcome barriers to learning.
Explore different tools for the "Coping Toolbox."
Video: Prepare with Pedro: Coping SkillsActivity: Create a physical or mental coping skills toolbox.
Week 7: Emotional Awareness
30 Mins
ASCA: B-SS 2. Create positive and supportive relationships.
Recognize and name emotions correctly.
Video: Social Emotional Learning for Kids: I AmDiscussion: Why is it important to understand your feelings?
Week 8: Calmness and Reflection
30 Mins
ASCA: M 6. Positive attitude toward work and learning.
Reflect on the journey and commit to future calmness.
Video: Song: Calm Body Calm MindDiscussion: How can you use these skills every day? Impulse Control Intro Slides Brain Garden
Week 1: What is Impulse Control?
Stop Think Act
The Big Question
Have you ever done something before you had a chance to think about it?
🍫 Grabbing a treat?
🗣️ Blurring out an answer?
🏃 Running in the hall?
💢 Getting mad quickly?
Video Time!
Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Let's watch and learn about how our brains work!
WATCH VIDEO HERE
Impulse Control Is...
🛑
STOP
Pause your body and your words.
🤔
THINK
What will happen next?
🌱
GROW
Make a smart choice.
Your Turn!
On your worksheet, draw or write about a time you acted before you thought.
How did it make you feel?
Impulse Control Reflection Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 1: Impulse Control Reflection
Name:
Date:
What is Impulse Control?
It is the ability to STOP and THINK before you ACT.
1
Think about a time you acted WITHOUT thinking first.
Draw what happened here
2
What happened next? How did you feel?
Growing Your Brain
If you could go back in time, what would you do differently? Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 1 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 1
This Week's Lesson
We began our 8-week series on Impulse Control . This week, your child learned that impulse control is the ability to stop and think before acting. It's a critical skill for making good decisions and building strong relationships.
Try This at Home
Talk About It: Share a time when you acted without thinking and what you learned. Ask your child to share their reflection worksheet from class.
Count to Ten: Encourage your child to take a slow breath and count to ten before reacting to a frustrating situation or making a quick choice.
Play a Game: Games like "Red Light, Green Light" or "Simon Says" are fun ways to practice stopping and starting on cue.
Watch Together
Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions?
Video Link
🛑 ➡️ 🤔 ➡️ 🌱
Stop, Think, Grow
Remind your child of our classroom model for making smart choices!
Growing Smart Choices Together
Self Regulation Slides Brain Garden
Week 2: Self-Regulation Techniques
Take a Deep Breath
Your Internal
Remote Control
Self-Regulation
Being the boss of your feelings and your body!
Just like a remote controls a TV, you can control your energy.
🌬️ Slow Down Your Breathing
🧘 Calm Down Your Body
Sing Along!
Self-Regulation Song for Kids
Let's learn how to regulate through music!
WATCH SONG HERE
Square Breathing
1. Inhale (4 sec)
2. Hold (4 sec)
3. Exhale (4 sec)
4. Hold (4 sec)
🌬️
Check Your Body
How do you feel now after breathing?
✨ Calm
😴 Sleepy
💪 Ready
Calming Breaths Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 2: My Calming Remote
Name:
Self-Regulation Power
I am the boss of my feelings. Breathing helps me calm my body down.
1 Trace and Breathe
Inhale
Hold
Exhale
Hold
Use your finger to trace the square while you breathe!
2
Checking In
Before Breathing I Felt:
After Breathing I Feel:
One other thing that helps me calm down is:
Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 2 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 2
Self-Regulation Skills
This week, students focused on self-regulation . We used the analogy of a "remote control" for our bodies and learned how deep breathing can physically slow down our heart rate and calm our minds.
Try This at Home
Practice Square Breathing: Ask your child to teach you the "Square Breathing" technique (Inhale 4, Hold 4, Exhale 4, Hold 4). Do it together for 2 minutes.
Calm-Down Jar: Create a jar with water, glitter, and glue. When your child feels overwhelmed, shake the jar and breathe until the glitter settles.
The Quiet Corner: Set up a "Quiet Corner" at home with pillows and books where anyone can go to "regulate" when their body energy feels too high.
Song Link
Self-Regulation Song For Kids
Watch & Listen
BE THE BOSS
OF YOUR FEELINGS
Regulation starts with a single breath.
Learning to regulate, one breath at a time
Resilience Slides Brain Garden
Week 3: Building Resilience
Bounce Back Power!
The Superball
Effect
Resilience
When something hard happens, you don't stay down. You bounce back up like a superball!
🏐
Boing!
Brave Story
Keeping Calm: Building Resilience with Hunter and Eve
Let's see how Hunter and Eve stay calm during hard times.
WATCH VIDEO
Resilience Tool: Deep Breathing
When you feel afraid or frustrated, your brain needs more oxygen to think clearly!
🌬️ Inhale for 5
🧘 Exhale for 5
Be Brave!
Think of a time you had to be brave.
How did you handle it? Did you use your breath to stay calm?
Resilience Brave Shield Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 3: My Resilience Shield
Name:
1
I Can Bounce Back!
Draw a picture of a time you had to be brave or try again when something was hard.
Brave Breathing
When I'm afraid, I will:
Inhale for 5 seconds
Exhale for 5 seconds
Brave Words
I can say to myself:
Remember: Resilience isn't about never falling. It's about getting back up every time!
Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 3 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 3
What is Resilience?
This week, we explored resilience —the ability to "bounce back" from challenges. We learned that controlled breathing isn't just for calming down; it's a tool that helps us stay brave when we feel afraid or stuck.
Try This at Home
Controlled Breathing: When your child is facing a tough homework problem or a new challenge, remind them to "breathe for 5" (in for 5, out for 5) before trying again.
Bounce Back Stories: Tell your child about a time you made a mistake or failed at something, and how you got back up and tried again.
Try Something New: Encourage your child to try a new skill (like a new game or a different chore) and celebrate the effort, even if it's hard at first!
Watch Together
Keeping Calm - Resilience with Hunter and Eve
Watch Video
BE BRAVE
YOU CAN DO IT
Mistakes are how our brains grow.
Building bravery and resilience together
Managing Anger Slides Brain Garden
Week 4: Managing Anger
Cooling Down the Heat
The Anger
Thermometer
Anger is a normal feeling, but it can feel very "hot" in our bodies. What happens to you?
🤜 Clenched fists?
🥵 Hot face?
🔊 Loud voice?
🗯️ Mean thoughts?
Story Time
The Fish and His Puffy Temper
Let's see how a little fish learns to manage a big temper!
WATCH STORY
Let's Practice!
Scenario 1
Someone accidentally bumps into you in line.
How do you stay calm?
Scenario 2
You lose a game at recess.
How do you stay calm?
My Cool Down Plan
🌬️ Breathe
🔢 Count to 10
🚶 Take a Walk
Managing Anger Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 4: My Calm-Down Plan
Name:
1
How My Body Feels
Color the parts of the body that feel "hot" or tight when you are angry:
👤
2
When I Feel Angry, I Can...
🌬️
Take 3 Deep Breaths
✋
Use My "Stop" Hand
🔢
Count to 10 Slowly
✏️
Draw My Feelings
My Brave Choice
Write or draw one way you stayed calm during today's role-play:
Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 4 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 4
Managing Big Feelings
This week, we talked about anger management . Students learned to identify the "hot" physical signals our bodies send when we're upset and practiced role-playing calm responses to common playground and classroom frustrations.
Try This at Home
Role-Play Scenarios: Role-play a situation where your child might feel angry (like having to turn off the TV). Practice using a "calm voice" to express their feelings.
Express It: Encourage your child to express their anger through drawing or writing in a journal rather than acting out physically.
The Anger Thermometer: Ask your child: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how hot is your anger feeling right now?" This helps them build awareness before they reach a 10.
Story Link
Story: The Fish and His Puffy Temper
Read Story
STAY COOL
LIKE THE GARDEN
Calm choices lead to happy days.
Helping our children cool down and bloom
Meditation Slides Brain Garden
Week 5: Meditation & Mindfulness
Finding Your Inner Peace
Mindfulness is...
Paying full attention to what is happening right now with a kind and curious mind.
👃 Smell the flowers
👂 Hear the birds
Self-Soothing
Butterfly Hug: Meditation for Children
Let's practice the Butterfly Hug together.
WATCH MEDITATION
How to Butterfly Hug
👐
CROSS
Cross your arms over your chest.
🦋
HOOK
Hook your thumbs like a butterfly.
👐
TAP
Tap your shoulders slowly like wings.
Kind to Yourself
How did the Butterfly Hug make your heart feel?
Mindfulness helps us stay calm and make smart choices.
Mindfulness Heart Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 5: My Mindful Heart
Name:
1
The Butterfly Hug
🦋
"I am safe. I am calm. I am brave."
Draw a butterfly in the space below. Inside the wings, write or draw 3 things that make you feel peaceful.
Favorite Peace Color
Color in this circle with your "Calm Color":
How I Feel Now
Peaceful
Quiet
Strong
Brave
Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 5 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 5
Mindfulness & Meditation
This week, students were introduced to meditation as a tool for self-soothing. We specifically learned the "Butterfly Hug," a research-backed method that helps children (and adults!) calm their nervous system when feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
Try This at Home
Butterfly Hug Together: Have your child show you how to do the Butterfly Hug. Practice it together before bedtime or when a stressful situation arises.
Mindful Walk: Take a 5-minute walk. Ask your child to point out 3 things they can see, 3 they can hear, and 1 thing they can smell.
Quiet Space: Create a dedicated "Peaceful Place" in your home where your child can sit quietly for a few minutes each day to practice their mindfulness skills.
Watch Together
Butterfly Hug: 6-Minute Self-Soothing Meditation
Watch Meditation
PEACE STARTS
WITH A CALM MIND
Kindness to self is a superpower.
Growing mindfulness and peace, one hug at a time
Coping Skills Slides Brain Garden
Week 6: My Coping Toolbox
Tools for Every Feeling
The Toolbox
A coping skill is something you DO to feel better when you have a difficult feeling.
🎨 Being Creative
🏃 Moving Your Body
🗣️ Talking to a Friend
📚 Reading a Book
Learning with Pedro
Prepare with Pedro: Coping Skills
Pedro the penguin has some great ideas for our toolbox!
WATCH VIDEO
Your Custom Toolbox
Not every tool works for every person.
Today, we are going to pick the tools that work best for YOU!
👂 Listen to Music
🧩 Do a Puzzle
Pack Your Bags!
On your worksheet, choose 4 coping skills to put in your Brain Garden toolbox.
Which one will you try first?
Coping Toolbox Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 6: My Coping Toolbox
Name:
1
Fill Your Toolbox
Choose 4 tools (coping skills) and draw them inside your toolbox below!
🎨 Draw a Picture
🌬️ Slow Breathing
🏃 Take a Lap
🗣️ Talk to Someone
📚 Read a Book
🔢 Count to 10
🧸 Fidget Toy
💧 Drink Water
How can these tools help you? Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 6 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 6
The Coping Toolbox
This week, students explored various coping skills and began building their personalized "toolboxes." We learned that just like a real toolbox, emotional tools help us fix problems and handle tough feelings in a healthy way.
Try This at Home
Make it Physical: Help your child create a physical "Coping Toolbox" at home using a shoebox. Fill it with things like stress balls, coloring books, and a list of calming activities.
Positive Self-Talk: Practice "Positive Self-Talk" with your child. Encourage them to say things like, "I can handle this" or "It’s okay to feel upset."
Tool Selection: When you notice your child having a hard time, ask: "Which tool from your toolbox would help you right now?" This empowers them to choose their own response.
Watch Together
Prepare with Pedro: Coping Skills
Watch Video
EQUIPPED FOR
ANY CHALLENGE
Building skills for life.
Growing resilience and skill, one tool at a time
Emotional Awareness Slides Brain Garden
Week 7: Emotional Awareness
Naming Every Flower
Name it to
Tame it!
When you can name your feeling, it starts to feel smaller and easier to manage.
🏷️
Give it a label!
Exploring "I Am"
Social Emotional Learning: I Am
Let's learn how to express who we are and how we feel.
WATCH VIDEO
The Garden Needs Variety
💢
Anger
Tells us when something is unfair.
😢
Sadness
Tells us when we need a hug or help.
😊
Joy
Tells us what makes our heart smile.
There are no "bad" feelings!
Feelings Bouquet
On your worksheet, give a name to each flower in your garden.
How are you feeling right now?
Feelings Bouquet Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 7: My Feelings Bouquet
Name:
1
Label the Garden
Each feeling is like a different flower. Write a feeling name on each tag below!
🌸
Tag 1
🌻
Tag 2
🌹
Tag 3
🌼
Tag 4
🌷
Tag 5
🌺
Tag 6
Word Bank
Happy Sad Angry Excited Frustrated Calm Nervous Brave
Today, I am feeling... Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 7 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 7
Emotional Vocabulary
This week, we focused on emotional awareness . Research shows that being able to "name it to tame it"—specifically identifying a feeling—helps calm the emotional center of the brain. Students practiced expanding their feelings vocabulary and learned that every emotion is valid.
Try This at Home
Name the Feeling: When your child is upset, instead of asking "What's wrong?", try saying, "It looks like you might be feeling frustrated. Am I right?" This helps them build their awareness.
Emotion Cards: Use index cards to draw simple faces for different emotions. Play a matching game or use them as "check-in" cards during dinner.
Feelings Journal: Start a "Feelings Journal" where your child can write or draw one thing they felt each day and why.
Watch Together
SEL for Kids: I Am
Watch Video
VALIDATE
EVERY FEELING
Understanding starts within.
Growing emotional intelligence together
Calmness and Reflection Slides Brain Garden
Week 8: Calmness & Reflection
Graduation Celebration!
Our 8-Week Journey
🛑 Impulse Control
🌬️ Self-Regulation
🏐 Resilience
💢 Managing Anger
🧘 Mindfulness
🧰 Coping Skills
🏷️ Emotional Awareness
✨ Inner Calm
One Last Song
Calm Body Calm Mind
Let's finish our series with a peaceful song.
WATCH SONG
The Best Part
What was your favorite tool that we learned?
How will you use it at home or on the playground?
🎓
You are a
Keep Growing!
Your Brain Garden will keep growing every time you choose to Stop, Think, and Grow.
Great job, everyone!
Graduation Reflection Worksheet The Brain Garden
Week 8: Graduation Reflection
Name:
Mindful Master Graduation
I have learned how to grow my brain and control my impulses!
🎓
1
My Favorite Tool
Of all the things we learned (breathing, butterfly hug, coping skills), which one was your favorite? Draw or write it here:
2
My Plan to Stay Calm
How will you use your "Brain Garden" skills in the future?
I AM A MINDFUL MASTER!
Impulse Control Parent Connection Week 8 The Brain Garden
Parent Connection: Week 8
Completing the Journey
Congratulations! Your child has completed our 8-week Impulse Control Fun series. Over the last two months, we have built a "Brain Garden" of skills—from deep breathing and resilience to emotional awareness and specialized coping tools. Today was a day of reflection and celebration.
Continuing the Growth
Celebrate the Learning: Ask your child about their "Mindful Master" graduation. Which skill did they choose as their favorite? Celebrate their growth in self-control!
Keep it Calm: Continue to use the "Stop, Think, Grow" model at home. Play the "Calm Body Calm Mind" song together to reinforce these habits.
Regular Reflections: Set aside time each week for a "Garden Check-In" to discuss how everyone is using their coping skills and managing their impulses.
Finale Song Link
Song: Calm Body Calm Mind
Listen to Song
THE GARDEN
NEVER STOPS GROWING
Keep choosing calm.
Thank you for growing with us!
