[Video Inside] We Taught Our Preschoolers Self-Control And Here’s What Happened Next

Choosing to hit seemed to be a powerful choice when you’re 5.

I didn’t know that you could teach 5 and 6 year olds self-control.  Did you?  Sure, I knew it was possible to teach my child to wait until after he eats his sandwich to devour his cookie.

But, I didn’t know that I could break down something so advanced like learning to control your excited wants and desires in the heat of the moment, but to resist, and to see that your preschooler and kindergartener actually get it and can demonstrate it.

My Problem

Hitting is a thing at my house.  I wish it wasn’t.  I wish I could tell you that we have it all figured out over here, but we don’t.  My sons both have very different identities, and they take passionate stances in how they’re feeling and what they want to do.

When my oldest son, our leader, wants his younger brother to comply with his “rules” on the playground, and to always let his older brother go down the tallest slide first – – there’s sometimes hitting.

When my younger son, our caregiver, wants to read to his younger sister on the couch but his older brother would rather make a fort with the couch cushions – – there’s sometimes hitting.

And when there’s only one piece of cake left, or one carton of everyone’s favorite yogurt on the shelf – – there’s sometimes hitting.

Your Problem Too

After I started becoming honest with other moms telling you about our biggest problem at our house, and asking you what the greatest problem is over at your house, we seemed to all agree.  You shared with me, that you sometimes have siblings hitting at your home too.

Over on my Instagram page, moms like you actually asked me to help this summer with all of the fighting happening at home from high-energy and less-active school age children.  So I accepted the challenge and wrote a professional kids song called “Self ConTROLLS™” that aimed to tackle our problem once and for all.  (No pun intended!)

Self-ConTROLLS™ – A kid’s song by Cute Institute™ about positive alternatives to hitting and fighting when a child is angry.

We even went to our favorite summer hang-outs like the beach and the trampoline park (where believe it or not, fights would also break out) and recorded a music video about self-control for kids!

Then the phrase of the summer for our family became one right out of our song…

“If you can choose to do it, then you can choose not to.” – Cute Institute™ Founder, Lyrics From Our Kids Song, Self-ConTROLLS™

In prayer, I asked for help to be able to describe something so advanced like exhibiting self-control to two boys with missing front teeth.  And after many drafts, and a trash can full of revisions, it boiled down to one saying.  “If you can choose to do it, then you can choose not to.”

Now, when my boys are face to face underneath the slide arguing over who gets to go down first, I can visibly see my oldest son hold himself back.

Still they’re vocal.  I want them to be.

Still they’re expressing themselves.  I want them to be.

But, they seem to understand that if they can choose to hit, then they can choose not to.

If they can choose to call names, then they can choose not to.

If they can choose to scratch or bite, then they can choose not to.

Choosing not to.  Now that’s a powerful choice.

Watch Our Music Video

Download Self-ConTROLLS™ MP3 Song

Try it in your home or classroom! Help teach your early learners positive alternatives to hitting and  download your copy of Self-ConTROLLS™ an educational kids song (.mp3) with a modern beat that won’t drive parents or teachers crazy!