Jump to the snow globe activity download
Impulse control is one of the single most important steps for emotional regulation. And the emotional regulation skill that serves as the foundation of all emotional regulation skills including mindfulness is……drum roll please….learning to take a pause.
For most, that’s taking a deep breath. Or several deep breaths.
During an emotional tsunami or meltdown, you wait for the mind to settle before reacting or speaking. Otherwise, you might say or do something you will regret. You could also be at risk for taking action that puts you in a more harmful situation.
Strong emotions hold the frontal lobe hostage and elicit a fight-or-flight response.
The pause gives our wise mind, the thinking brain, a chance to catch up, engage, and assess the situation so one can respond in a more civil manner.
How can we teach this emotional regulation skill in a way people can remember?
A snow globe or glitter globe is the quickest way to help people understand the concept of allowing one’s mind to settle before reacting.
And remember that those who struggle with impulse control will need more repetition as this serves to reinforce the concept. Start this as early as possible with children but know that even adults can learn this skill.
You can use keywords as reminders such as “glitter globe” so we aren’t calling someone out or humiliating them. We can even allow the other person the choice of what phrase to use if that is doable.
Then look for times when that someone else or child shows self-control. Smile or nod your head so they see you noticed. We don’t want to default to calling someone out only when they have the behavior we are trying to change.
Sample Script for the Activity
You’d adjust this for the age group and quite frankly while you might think it’s just for kids, I’ve made glitter globes with adults. It’s never too late to teach or learn impulse control. And I had fun making mine. I did it the easy way. No palm trees in my globe.
Script:
“The pause, also known as impulse control, is like having a superpower in your brain that helps you make good decisions. It’s the ability to stop yourself from doing something you really want to do right away and think about whether it’s the right thing to do.
Imagine you have a big plate of delicious cookies in front of you, and you really, really want to eat them all right now because they look and taste so good. But impulse control is what makes you stop and think: ‘Should I eat all these cookies, or should I save some for later? Is it a good idea to have so many cookies all at once, or will it be better if I have just a few and save the rest for later?’
Impulse control helps you make decisions that are smart and safe, even when you really want to do something fun or tasty right away. It’s like being a superhero of self-control!”
Here is the 10-second video and the pdf of activity directions is after that
Snow Globe Activity Download
AnneMoss Rogers is a leading wellness and suicide education expert and one of the top mental health speakers and suicide prevention speakers. Known for her powerful, motivational keynotes, AnneMoss combines her personal story of loss with proven strategies to help organizations build a wellness culture that drives results and saves lives. She speaks at conferences, workplaces, K-12 schools, and universities, delivering impactful presentations that inspire change and promote mental health awareness.
AnneMoss does this work in memory of her son, Charles, who struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction, and died by suicide at age 20 in 2015.