Stop and Think
What does it mean to stop and think before acting?
You are thinking how your actions can affect the situation.
The door is closed to your parents bedroom or office. You barge through without knocking to tell them what you want to eat. How could you use stop and think.
See that the door is shut, think is it during work hours?, do I hear their voice on the phone?, maybe I should knock before I go in
You need to tell your mom something but she is on the phone. You decide to interrupt her.
Did you stop and think?
No.
How can you tell if something is a big deal
It can't be changed or fixed easily, it can have a lasting or long-term effect
Why is using the tool of stop, think, do important?
It can help us control our impulses or initial reactions and think how our actions affect others
Your sibling wants to be the player in the video game that you like to be. You automatically say that he can't be that player because that is YOUR player. Your brother begins to cry.
How could you use stop and think in this situation?
Answers vary
Peter knows the answer to the question in class and yells it out without raising his hand.
Did Peter stop and think?
No
How can you tell if something is a little deal
If something is annoying or if something can be fixed or changed easily
When is a good time to stop and think?
when my body begins to tense up, and I start to feel large emotions
You notice other kids in your class aren't following directions. You begin yelling at them to fix what they are doing and tattle to the teacher. How could you use stop and think?
Stop to think how your actions can make your classmates feel, think do their actions affect me? will telling on them make them upset? is it my job to point this out?
Ashley has to use the restroom but her teacher is speaking to the class. She quietly stands up and picks up the bathroom pass and motions to her teacher before leaving. Did she stop and think?
Yes
1. Is there an alternative reason or explanation possible
2. If I don't deal with it now, will I feel the same way later (in an hour, a week, a month)
3. do other people in the situation also see it as a big deal?
4. can it be fixed or changed easily
When you stop and think, what are some questions you can ask yourself?
How is the other person feeling?
How will this affect someone else?
Am I being kind or thoughtful?
Tell about a time you got a negative consequence for a choice you made. If you could have stopped and thought before acting, how could the situation ended differently.
Answers vary
Your sibling keeps poking you. You say calmly, "Please stop poking me. It is making me very frustrated." Did you stop and think.
Yes
what can I do if something is a little deal
try to calm down, take a break, take three deep breaths, count to 10 in your head, use self-talk, come up with a plan to fix it
True or False
When you stop and think, it is important to identify how you feel and what you need.
True
you are VERY angry when your parents tell you to get off your screens to go for a walk outside. you stand up, start yelling and throw the chair you were sitting on. how could you use stop and think
Stop and identify what you are feeling, think if it is a big problem or a small problem, how your reaction can make the problem bigger or smaller, think what could you do to manage your emotions
You lose a game on your ipad. You slam your ipad on the table very hard. Did you stop and think?
No
What do I do if something is a big deal
Try to calm down, get help if you need it, problem solve, look at what options you have now