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Impulse Control Games & Activities for Kids

Posted on by Nicholas Snietka

Impulse control can be something that people struggle with from that early childhood, well into adulthood. Who hasn’t had daydreams about walking out of work in the middle of the day or opting out of a traffic jam with some impromptu off-roading? With age and life experience, we begin to understand the value of the rules of an organized society and have more awareness of the consequences of our actions.

Impulse control can be more challenging for children since they lack the experience or cognitive maturity to recognize how their present behavior can impact their future. For kids who have a mental health diagnosis or difficulties with self-regulation, executive functioning, or oppositional behavior, impulse control can become a steeper and more uphill battle.

Learn how to help kids develop impulse control strategies with fun games that provide important opportunities to practice waiting your turn, following rules, and listening to instructions.

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Think of playing as life’s Trojan horse of learning — not many kids are going to enthusiastically line up for a lecture about the importance of listening to directions and following rules, but the right activity will teach kids these lessons in their own language, play.

At What Age Should a Child Learn Self-Control?

Impulse control issues are a normal part of childhood development. Hitting, biting, running inside, jumping on furniture, talking out of turn are not abnormal in young children.

Impulse control is more than adherence to the social contract where we agree to follow certain rules and expectations, it’s actually part of our overall growth and development.

According to parenting resource Zero to Three, the developmentally appropriate time to start expecting impulse control is around three and a half to four-years-old. Of course, all children are different and some have an easier time with self-regulation than others, but late preschool is the ideal age to introduce your child to impulse control activities.

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Our 5 Favorite Impulse Control Games & Activities

Teaching impulse control doesn’t need to involve elaborate lesson plans; in fact, you are most likely already doing it daily without even recognizing your efforts.

The following activities are all popular childhood pastimes, with the added benefit of encouraging impulse control:

Red Light, Green Light
Although it’s more fun with a small group, you can play Red Light, Green Light with as few as three people. One person acts as the “stop light” while the others line up on the starting line. The stop light calls out “green light” and the players race towards them, getting as far as they can until the stop light yells “red light,” which is the sign to stop immediately. If players are still moving after “red light” is called, they must retreat back to the starting line. Whoever reaches the stop light first is declared the winner. Red Light, Green Light is a great game for helping kids learn the importance of listening and following directions. It also is helpful in terms of practicing body control.

Board Games
Board games are a fun activity for all ages and an entertaining way to spend some family time together. Make sure you choose a game that is relevant to your child’s age range and interests. Read the directions, ask your child to summarize them for you to gauge their level of understanding, and start playing! Board games require patience, taking turns, problem-solving, and are an easy way to practice learning to win or lose.

Simon Says
Perfect for preschoolers, but also fun for elementary school-aged children, Simon Says is the perfect activity for teaching impulse control. One person stands in front of the group and acts as Simon, issuing commands like “stand on one foot” or “quack like a duck” — however, players only follow those commands if they are preceded by the phrase “Simon says.” If a player accidentally acts on a command that didn’t start with the words “Simon says,” they are out, and the winner is the last player standing. Simon Says helps kids with listening, following directions, body control, and thinking before acting.

Card Games
Much like board games, card games offer enough structure to help children learn about impulse control with enough entertainment value to make it fun. Games like Uno, Skipbo, Go Fish, and Slap Jack requires patience, problem-solving, the ability to pay attention to directions, and often even anger management when things don’t quite work out as planned. Handling cards has the added bonus of supporting the development of fine motor skills.

Clapping Games
For a quick and easy game that also teaches impulse control, play a form of follow the leader with simple clapping patterns. One person claps a certain rhythm while the others listen and then claps that same pattern back. An activity like this helps promote good listening skills and allows children to be active and make some noise in a controlled way. This can be helpful as a movement break during the day and can promote practice with body control.

Helping your child learn and practice impulse control strategies will benefit them throughout their life. Try starting from an early age by teaching your child how to identify their emotions and helping them practice following directions. Coaching them on problem-solving skills and providing appropriate structure and rules can also be helpful tools. Impulse control games can support your efforts e by making learning — and teaching — more fun.

Nurture Your Child’s Creative Spark

Posted on by Elena Paige

Children naturally love to play and make things. To paint, draw, sing, dance, write stories and get messy cooking in the kitchen. We think it’s natural. Normal. An expected phase of childhood for them. But it’s so much more.

When your child is creative, their brain function increases, stress hormones and inflammation decrease, and their immune system gets stronger (Evans, J., 2007). 

Long term, children who are creative more often, are naturally happier, better focussed, and have less anxiety and depression than children who don’t regularly engage in creative activities. 

And what about when they grow up? According to a study by Professor David Gill, creative adults get higher paying jobs, more quality jobs, and reach higher levels of education (Gill, D., 2021). They are more confident, independent, and resilient, no matter what life throws their way. 

In short, creativity matters. 

How can you, as a parent, nurture the creative spark your child is naturally born with? Here are my top tips!

1. Everyone is creative. Creativity isn’t a talent. It’s a myth that you’re born creative or not. We can all be creative geniuses, given the opportunity. Make time and space for your child to do more creative things, more often. Put on some music and dance together. Get out those pencils and draw. Read a book and pause part way through allowing your child to make up what happens next. Cook a meal together and add some creative flourishes. Explore other cultures. Read riddles. Do puzzles. There is creativity waiting to be discovered around every corner. 

2. Allow your child to lead. Creativity is fun. Today, where it’s so easy for children to choose to consume video games and television over creative tasks, it’s even more important to let them choose activities they are passionate about. If they love playing outside with nature and making perfume out of flowers (this was my favorite activity as a child), then let them do it. Are they obsessed with drawing bugs? Great. Do they love making things out of empty boxes? Amazing. Let your child choose their passion, move at their own pace, and engage fully in the activity. This teaches them to follow their creative spark, and you might be amazed where it will lead them one day. 

3. Set up a “creative space” to encourage creative time. Creativity is a skill. Skills are built over time and repetition. Your child needs time to get good at their creative endeavours. For example, they’ll get better and better at drawing, the more they do it. Research shows that to develop a skill, it’s better to do something creative for fifteen minutes every day, rather than once a week for a longer period. Small amounts everyday count for more. When you set up a “creative space,” your child is more likely to build blocks, create Lego masterpieces, or draw. Having a special space invites small amounts of creativity more often. The creative space can be a child-sized table, a corner of the bedroom, or even a favorite rug just for creative time. It announces, “It’s time to get creative!” And place it away from the TV and tablet charging station!

4. Make your feedback count. As a parent, you want to praise your child when they do something creative. It’s totally natural. You’re proud of them and want them to know. It feels natural to say something like, “That’s really good. I like it.” However, we now know this sort of feedback makes kids outcome driven. They measure their work and their value based on whether you liked what they created. This eventually creates an insecure artist who is frightened of criticism and always seeks praise. Instead, we want creativity to be valued for the process. We want creativity to be something your child enjoys doing for the sake of doing it. Then they will do more of it. So instead of saying you like what your child made, or that it’s good, give feedback that encourages your child to talk about what they created, such as “That tower is really tall.” “You look like you’re really enjoying that.” “Was that fun?” “Tell me about what you made?”  

But after all that is said and done, there is one other amazing way to nurture the creative spark in your child. What is it? Sit down and join in! There is nothing more special to your child than doing something creative with you. A special time to have fun together making something memorable will teach your child that you love their creative side, and you value it just as much as their school grades. You do value it just as much as their school grades, right? Phew! Okay, good. Now stop reading and go get creative!

Elena Paige was a counselling psychologist for over 20 years, specialising in emotions, positive thinking, and mindfulness. She now works full time as a Children’s Book Author, penning stories that inspire a child’s imagination and quest for adventure, while also gifting them with valuable life lessons and personal growth. Her titles include the best-selling series Meditation Adventures for Kids, and Evie Everyday Witch. You can find her at ElenaPaige.com.

Evans, J. E. (2007). The science of creativity and health. In I. A. Serlin, J. Sonke-Henderson, R. Brandman, & J. Graham-Pole (Eds.), Whole person healthcare Vol. 3. The arts and health (pp. 87–105). Praeger Publishers.

Gill, David and Prowse, Victoria L., The Creativity Premium (May 28, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3855808 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3855808

5 Sensory activities for kids with autism

Posted on by Nicholas Snietka

Children who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) sometimes have difficulty interpreting and responding to their sensory experiences. This can result in an over-response to some sensations and an under-response to others. Sounds, textures, sights, tastes, and smells can have a powerful influence on kids diagnosed with ASD. Incorporating activities that engage the senses and are a good fit for autistic children can help them better integrate sensory information and respond to the environment around them. Here are a few sensory activities your child with autism may enjoy.

Sensory Activities for Children with Autism

1. Sensory Boxes

One fun activity is to create a sensory box filled with water beads, sand, beans, or a mixture of a few different items. Add small toys or “treasures” along with items like spoons or cups so that the child can dig, bury, and pour within the box. Have your child find the treasures or play with the treasures however they want. These sensory play activities provide great sensory input and can have a calming effect. Some kids find using their sensory box as a coping tool can be helpful when they start to feel frustrated or upset.

How can video games help kids regulate their emotions? Learn how Mightier’s clinically tested games work. Over 70% of parents report positive change.

2. Homemade Play-dough

Play-dough or Slime Play-dough and slime are extremely versatile kid favorites for sensory stimulation. You can make homemade play-dough or slime with a variety of interesting and calming scents and colors using food extracts and food coloring. Kids can have fun molding the play-dough and guessing the smell, like cinnamon or lavender. Incorporate some fine-motor skill practice by planting small items in the play-dough for kids to dig out.

3. “Heavy-Work” Activities

Multisensory activities that help kids deeply feel their muscles and bodies working can support sensory integration. Heavy-work activities include safely lifting heavy items, pushing or pulling, and generally anything that challenges the muscles. Heavy-work tasks can be as simple as pushing a grocery cart or carrying books from one room to another. These activities are great for kids who need a lot of movement and for kids who are fatigued and need to wake up their senses. Plus, kids love to feel like they are helping. Other fun examples of heavy-work activities include wall push-ups, bear hugs, and tug-of-war games.

4. Musical Instruments

Music is highly stimulating to the senses and the mind. Listening to and playing music can also be uplifting and soothing to kids with sensory processing concerns. Kids can learn a traditional instrument, or they can create instruments of their own out of household materials. Make a rain stick out of a cardboard tube filled with beads, or maracas using a plastic egg filled with rice. You can also collaborate with your child to create a playlist of their favorite tunes they can sing, dance, or listen to.

5. Deep Pressure

Deep pressure activities promote feelings of calmness and safety for many children with autism spectrum disorder. These activities are particularly useful when your child is experiencing sensory overload. Things like a high five, a pat on the back, a shoulder squeeze, or a hug are some ways that your child can interact with others to get a deep pressure sensation. To give themselves some deep pressure stimulation by pushing their hands into their thighs, crossing their hands over their chest and pushing down, or even using a weighted blanket.

It may take some trial and error before you find sensory stimulation activities and sensory play ideas that are a good fit for your child’s senses. Think about your child’s individual needs when planning an activity. Sensory seekers may want to dive right in. However, for kids who want to avoid certain sensory experiences, you can use these activities to gently introduce them to new textures and sensations while trying to avoid sensory overload. With the right support, your kid can learn tools and sensory activities that will help them manage their sensory processing concerns and thrive.