Traffic light technique. How can we regulate impulsive behavior at home?

The traffic light technique helps us teach children to control their behavior. We know how difficult it is for many of our children to manage their impulsiveness. The desire to do things, prevent, on numerous occasions, that they think and meditate on the consequences of their actions. The strategies to teach them to handle reflexivity are varied, but due to its simplicity, one stands out among all: The traffic light technique.

Today we are going to teach the steps of this technique so that we can apply it at home, thus reducing impulsive behaviors:

1. We print the semaphore file.
2. We explain why to use a traffic light. “Just as traffic is regulated by signals and traffic lights, we too can use these to help us control our urge to do things quickly and without thinking. We all carry a traffic light that we must set in motion by ordering its colors. Do you know what the order of the colors of a traffic light is? The first light is red, and it means we have to stop. The second light is orange and its meaning is that we must think before doing something, just like a car when it sees the orange light must think whether or not it can pass. The last light is the color green, now if we can do the behavior, once we have stopped, we have thought about its possible consequences and different ways of acting. "
3. We put the traffic light token in a visible place. At the beginning of the technique it is advisable to place it in different places in the house, where impulsive behaviors usually appear. Places like the dining table, game room, your bedroom, etc. they are suitable, and always at the level of your eyes.
4. Remind them of the steps of the technique. Only in this way will they be able to internalize the orders that must be given to avoid impulsive behaviors and initiate proper self-regulation.