Children Need to Learn to "Stop and Think"

One of the most important life skills that any child --any person-- must develop is the ability to "stop and think" before they react.  This ability is particularly necessary in situations where impulsive reactions can be dangerous, such as when a bully approaches a child, when someone is looking for a fight, or when there is an overture to try drugs.

The ability to "stop and think" is critical in situations like these.  It is also helpful in just about any interaction with others, such as when parents or teachers ask children to follow instructions.  Being able to "stop and think" about the best way to respond will usually determine whether these everyday interactions are satisfying and growth-producing.  Or whether they increase tensions, lead to conflicts or worse.

The ideas of teaching children how to "stop and think" and then what to do are central to a program created by one of my friends, Dr. Howard M Knoof of the Arkansas Department of Education.