What is Impulse Control?

Impulse Control is the ability to limit behaviors and words that are caused by initial emotional reactions. Difficulties with impulse control are present at any age, but particularly common among children as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (which handles planning and making choices) is still developing. This is particularly common with children where emotional regulation, dopamine seeking behaviors, and time management (such as with ADHD) are already areas or concern. More severe behaviors such as Kleptomania and other Impulse Control Disorders(ICD) will likely require close collaboration with a psychologist or physician and may have more limited benefits from the interventions listed below. This article helps profile Impulse Control Disorders.

Interventions and Activities to Support Impulse Control

Environmental/Visual: One of the easiest ways to support children is to set up the environment. Dim lights, cloth swings, calming music, and even creating and working in forts can help set your sessions up for success with impulsive, high energy kids. Other environmental supports include:

-Visual Schedules: Alternating preferred activities can help kids practice waiting for pay-outs and help with time management as well

–Metro Timer: Visual timers are great, but this free app has an additional metronome component

-Hula Hoop: Helps create a visual boundary to slow kids down. These adjustable ones are a fun way to scale up and down

–Breathing Ball: Create various challenges including timing catching the ball when open or closed. Decreasing heart rate through deep breathing/improving regulation also supports all executive functioning skills.

Movement Interventions: These are especially good for younger children. Playing the song versions of Freeze Dance or Floor is Lava can add the additional benefit of supporting auditory processing and allowing you to model the behaviors with them rather than directing the child. Below are some of our favorites.

-Simon Says

-Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

-Red Light/Green Light

-Freeze Dance

-Floor is Lava

Games: Games can be used for a variety of ages and are easy to upgrade and downgrade.

-Don’t Break The Ice: upgrade by challenges kid to get as many taps as possible before breaking through the ice

-Jenga: upgrade by adding a timer where you have to wait for 5-10 seconds before grabbing a piece or try to make the game last as long as possible

-Bop It: Also supports bilateral skills, auditory processing, and fine motor skills

-Outfoxed: Great for older kids who also have difficulty with sequencing or collaboration

Art Activities: For the kids that engage in table work or have fine motor goals these can be good options.

-Directed Drawing: Teaching children how to draw one step at a time with you modeling each step. Following along with a video like Art Hub for Kids is also a good option.

–Stop and Think Remote: A great, free Centervention resource

Just a heads up, Time4OT is an Amazon affiliate and we may receive a small commission from all Amazon products purchased through our website. We only recommend items we truly love and have tried. Time4OT’s recommendations are educational and informational only and do not take the place of skilled medical services; engaging in any activities listed is understood to be at your own risk and professional medical opinion.