Pause or React?
Waiting Skills
Social Situations
Calm Down Strategies
What would you do?
100

You feel like talking while someone else is speaking. Is it better to pause or react right away?

Pause 

100

What is one polite phrase you can use to tell someone you'd like a turn?

“Can I go next?” / “I’d like a turn next.” (etc.) 

100

Someone interrupts you. What is one calm response?

Wait, raise hand, ask for a turn, say excuse me, (etc.) 

100

Name one breathing strategy. 

Deep breath, box breathing, alternating nostril breathing, 4-7-8, etc. 

100

You really, really want to answer a question in group. What do you do first?

Raise hand (etc.) 

200

Name one body signal that tells you you’re about to act impulsively.

Fast talking, tense body, racing thoughts, tapping fingers or toes, interrupting, etc. 

200

How many seconds is a good pause before speaking?

3–5 seconds

200

True or False: Everyone struggles with impulse control sometimes.

True

200

What is one fidget or movement that helps you regulate?

Stress ball, squeezing hands, foot on floor, etc. 

200

You interrupt someone by accident. What should you say?

Sorry, go ahead, etc. 

300

What is one thing you can do during a pause?

Breathe, count, squeeze a fidget, raise hand, etc. 

300

Name one visual or signal that helps remind someone to wait. 

Hand up, stop sign, finger signal, etc. 

300

What could happen if you interrupt a conversation a lot?

Others feel annoyed, conversation stops working, etc. 

300

What emotion often shows up before you act impulsively?

Anger, excitement, frustration, happiness, etc. 

300

You’re waiting your turn and feel impatient. Name one coping skill you can use.

Breathing, counting, fidgeting, distraction, etc. 

400

True or False: Impulses are bad and should be ignored.

False

400

If you forget and interrupt, what’s a good sentence you can use to repair the situation?

"sorry, go ahead." (etc.) 

400

You want to say something important but someone else is talking. What should you do?

wait, signal, hold your thought, etc. 

400

True or False: Calming your body can help calm your thoughts.

True

400

Someone is talking slowly and you feel annoyed. What’s a good choice you can make?

Wait, breathe, listen, shake out the tension, etc. 
500

Finish the sentence: Impulse control means ______ before acting.

Pausing, thinking, choosing, etc. 

500

Why is waiting important in conversations?

It helps others feel respected / conversations work better (etc.) 

500

Name one place where impulse control is especially important.

School, work, group, home, library, store, public places, etc. 

500

Imagine you are feeling jittery. Name two things you can do to calm down without leaving the room.

Breathing, fidget, grounding, counting, etc. 

500

Give one example of when you used impulse control outside this group.

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