Lauren Brukner - Self-Control to the Rescue!: Super Powers to Help Kids Through the Tough Stuff in Everyday Life

SELF-CONTROL
TO THE RESCUE!

Super-Powers to Help Kids Through
the Tough Stuff in Everyday Life

LAUREN BRUKNER

ILLUSTRATED BY APSLEY

Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia

Contents

PART 1

FOR KIDS

Introduction

The real super-powers of self-control

Well, hello, awesome and amazing readers. Thats right, Im talking to you! The one with the eyes looking into this book, or the ears hearing the words being read. Clap three times to show me how excited you are to start this adventure!

By now, Im sure youve heard of me. Da da da daSelf-Control, super-hero extraordinaire, to the rescue! What? You havent? Are you sure? I bet you have. Ill tell you why.

Have you ever gotten so, so angry, that you just felt like you wanted to explode with the force of itbut you didnt? Well, that was the super-powers of Self-Control, channeling the force to you.

What about feeling so, so wiggly, so unfocused, that you were unable to listen to your teacher in class, but you somehow got the willpower to bring your body and mind back to your lesson? Again, thats the super-powers of Self-Control to the rescue!

I could keep going, but I think that youre starting to get the idea.

I may not be as glamorous, as pretty, or as, well, green, as some of my more famous super-hero buddies, but I think that my own super-hero powers are pretty important, dont you? Plus, dont tell them I told you, but I have helped them out quite a bit to get them where they are today.

Are you ready to learn some Self-Control Super-Powers? Lets go!

How this book works

Its officially time to begin your training. Put on your capes and lets enter Self-Control Academy! Open the door, its kind of heavyyou may need both hands!

Ok, guys. Were going to learn super-powers while helping fellow kids who are facing trouble:

sleeping

waking up

paying attention

with friends

at recess and lunch.

When you do the strategy the right waytrust me, Im watchingyou save the day for that kid.

I know they will thank you for it.

You will also earn a Self-Control Coin.

Once you earn all 15 coins, you graduate and are an official Self-Control Super-Heroable to rescue kids from tough situations that we will practice (with your grown-ups permission, of course).

Push your hands together, and lets dive into the book. Self-Controls to the rescue!

CHAPTER 1

Getting Ready in the Morning

Waking up is hard to do I think thats part of a song. For good reason. Warm, cozy bed. Facing the day. Ugh! I get it.

So, so many people, kids and adults alike, have a lot of trouble even getting out of their beds, let alone being on time doing everything else so that they can get to school and work on time. It can be very stressful, cant it?

This chapter is going to give you three simple ways to make the first part, just getting out of bed, a bit easier, so that the rest of the morning can go smoother. Happier youhappier family.

Lets practice by helping Joel, Lianna, and Charlie. Before we begin, do you have trouble with waking up in the morning? If youre reading this with a friend or in a group, touch your left knee if you would like to share what feels difficult or your own ways that help you get yourself out of bed!

Super-Power #1: Picture Your Day Going Great!

Joel is curled up under the soft blankets of his bed. The clock reads 7:50 a.m., and school starts at 8:00 a.m. His sisters have already dressed and eaten breakfast. He hears them laughing downstairs, which just makes him feel irritated. Joel has been having a hard time in school lately, especially with understanding math. The thought of going into class makes him feel nervous. He cant find the words to say this to his dad, so he simply states angrily: I am not going to school now! Its just going to be bad. I want to stay at home. His dad throws his hands up, and walks out of the room .

Ok, guys, here is our first assignment. We have to help Joel feel better about himself, while getting him out of bed. This is a complicated case for our first job, but I know that you can do it!

The first super-power is called Picture Your Day Going Great! Close your eyes. Now, in your mind, go through the day. What do you anticipate happeninggreat things, ok things, and maybe more difficult things? Remind yourself there are things that may happen that you cant anticipate. Remind yourself that you cant control every situation, but you can control how you think about it, and your reaction. Picture yourself happy, flexible, and confident.

Lets see if we helped Joel! I hope so, dont you? Its so important to feel confident and happy in yourself.

Amazing job! Clap your hands nice and loud to make the first coin appear!

Super-Power #2: Reach Up and Grab the Sunshine to Your Heart!

The house is bustling with the sounds of the morning rush to get ready. Its cold outside, make sure you put your scarf by your backpack! Do you want waffles with melon or with an apple? Lianna is still in bed. Her sister is dressed, and fixing her hair in the room that they share. Lianna, flopped sideways across her bed, hair disheveled, rubs her eyes and mutters angrily, Its too bright in here! I want to sleep!

Ive felt that way before, havent you? Snap twice and touch your nose so I know youre ready for action! For the first super-power, we didnt need to open our eyes (or move), right? This next one requires a bit more work, but Lianna (or you!) can still lay down.

Super-Power #2 is called Reach Up and Grab the Sunshine to Your Heart! This works, even if its a cloudy day, because the sun always peeks out through the clouds, if you just search for it. What youre going to do is reach up, from either laying down or seated, cross your arms across each other, and stretch your arms upwards towards the sunshine. Take some of that sunshine and put it to your heart. Press it there as long as it takes to stick. Let this sunshine start your day brightly. Touch that place in your heart whenever you need, throughout the day, to remind yourself of that brightness, and that everything is, or will be, ok.

Ok, back to Lianna. Lets see if using this new super-power, Reach Up and Grab the Sunshine to Your Heart! , helped Lianna wake up happy and easily.