In seeking to find replacement behaviors for children who are out of control be sure and check the things that are contributing toward the frustration/injury that s fostering the lack of self-control. Talk with the child and help them see you are confident they can regain their composure. Building their confidence is critical in helping them overcome their unrealistic demands on themselves as well on others. Below are some practical ideas you can use to help children regain their self-control.

1. Redirect the child- Sometimes it s necessary to leave the place where the child has lost his control and walk with them to a new location. Remember, if the child is left alone anger most likely will continue to escalate. Any thing that escalates tends to deteriorate.

2. Use an outside signal – Use a non-verbal signal that communicates you want the class to go outside if a child loses self control. Just the movement toward the outside activity can help the child regain their self-control. They usually will want to rejoin the group in a fun activity designed for outside play.

3. Provide special Fanny Packs- Fill a Fanny Pack full of small manipulative toys and stuff you think children might enjoy. Include pipe cleaners, miniature wind up toys, Play Dough, kaleidoscope etc. When children regain self-control they can wear and use the things in the fanny packs. This can also be used as a strategy when children are finished with classroom assignments.

4. Water Cups of Self-Control- Use water on a wet paper towel to soothe the forehead or use a fine mist spray to cool the child s face. Imitate pouring cups of water over the child s head and

sprinkling water all over their upper torso and feet. Use as an association with the water.

5. Provide two different work stations for the child to work at in the classroom- If they are in control have them work at a desk that is motivational and would be the preference between two desks offered. Let him know it s up to him in maintaining his self- control in order to sit at the desk of choice.

6. Agreement with your administrator- It s important that you keep your school administrator/director up to date on your documentation and progress with your behavior challenged kids. Surprises prevent you from successful interventions. Remember that intermittent reinforcement almost guarantees failure. It s also important to let your administrator know you don t want them to discipline your child but merely provide a holding place when needed.

7. Ways to Express Strong Feeling Chart- Design a chart that has pictures of various anger management strategies and place it in the room as options for expressing strong feelings. Help kids learn they can express their anger by throwing clouds in the air (cotton balls) or plunging up and down on a carpet target. Teach children that people are for developing friends with not for targets.

8. Implement a Feeling Wheel- Make two circles. On one of the circles divide it into four equal parts. Write a major feeling in each of the four circles: Pain, Happy, Fear and Anger. Place pictures of these feelings along with the words in each of the four sections. On the other larger circle, paste pictures of your entire class. Various times during the day you might want to check your class feelings by having the children move the feeling wheel around to their picture.

– Gene Bedley