What Were You Thinking?: A Story About Learning to Control Your Impulses

When you're a child, it's not easy controlling your impulse reactions - kids do things before they think all the time. Strengthen executive function skills and empower impetuous young people with a humorous story about an impulsive third-grader. Teach students a strategy of four simple steps for stopping, thinking, decision-making, and choosing the right behavior.

Third-grader Braden is a real character. He loves to be the center of attention. Everyone just LOVES his jokes, witty comments, and immediate reactions. Or at least that's what he thinks. His comic genius, as he sees it, causes his friends to look at him in awe.

But when he is corrected in class for ill-timed jokes and an impulsive reaction during a game of dodge ball ends up with a classmate in tears, Braden's teachers and parents start working with him on how to control his impulses, teaching him four steps to follow before saying or acting on an urge, intrusive thought, or any idea that may land him in hot water.

Impulse control is an executive functioning skill that allows you think before you act and to prioritize long-term success over short-term gains. When you have good self-control, you are able to resist doing things that may be harmful to yourself or to others.

Will the lessons provided by the adults in Braden's life help him see a better way to manage his impulses? Find out in this hilarious story, the first book in the Executive FUNction series by author and school counselor Bryan Smith. Tips for parents and educators are included at the end of the storybook to help children learn to control their impulses. 

The Executive FUNction series also includes:

• My Day is Ruined!
• It Was Just Right Here!
• Of Course It's a Big Deal!
• Time to Get Started
• What's the Problem?
• How Did You Miss That?
• I'll Never Get All of That Done!
• Fix It with Focus
• How Do I Remember All That?

 

Bryan Smith comes from a family of educators. He has worked in the education field for more than 15 years. He began his career as an elementary school teacher before realizing he had a talent for helping children deal with difficult issues. He has since become a school counselor, where he flourishes teaching students life skills that will help them succeed.