The ability to "stop and think" is just that, an ability or skill that must be exercised and developed as we develop.  Self-control or self-regulation is the process of identifying and appropriately expressing feelings, impulses and urges.  Young children are often impulsive as they barge into a play situation of another child as they have yet to learn the skills related to healthy self-control. 

This song promotes the important behaviors of self-control including:

• Showing patience 
• Sharing with other children 
• Cooperating with others

Lyrics                                 
There once was a rabbit who always rushed in,
He never thought of anyone else.
He knocked things over, he messed things up,
he only thought of himself.
Then along came a slow turtle, she wanted to hide her head.
But she bravely turned to the rabbit and very politely said,
Stop and think (stop and think)
Look and see (look and see)
What's going on? (what's going on?)
What about me? (what about me?)
Can I play with you? (can I play with you?)
Can I read that book? (can I read that book?)
Is there room for me? (is there room for me?)
Can I stay and look? (can I stay and look?)
Stop and think (stop and think)
Look and see (look and see)
What's going on? (what's going on?)
What about me? (what about me?)

Tips for Parents

• Ask your child, "What does it mean if I say that you are acting grabby? What does it mean if I say someone is bossy'?
• Encourage your child to quietly echo "stop and think" each time they hear it.   This helps the child to remember this important self-talk.  
• March in a circle and then "stop and think" (point to head), "look and see" (move your head from side to side like looking to cross the street).
• Go with Games - There are many games and strategies for practicing self control.  Games like "Red Light; Green Light" and "Simon Says" naturally require a child to "stop and Think."  For younger children, simply doing something as fast as they can and then doing it as slow as they can or Freeze Tag practices inhibition. 
• Focus on The Inside - With individual children, simple things like walking a taped line on the floor, or walking as slowly as they can or seeing how long they can hold an M&M on the tongue without eating it.  (Time them so that they can beat their own best time.)  This delay of gratification involves self control.

The Research Behind This Song
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is the part of the brain where thinking and feeling come together.  It's the part of the brain that allows us to evaluate feelings and the consequences of actions.  The amygdala is part of the limbic system which is activated by strong negative images or feelings.  The PFC modulates the activity in the amygdale.  In a recent study, children who had high activation of the PFC after being shown a negative image had lesser levels of the stress hormone, cortisol that evening.  Cortisol is bad for the brain and the body.  It interferes with learning and memory (Davidson, 2007).Research suggests that we can change the brain by training the mind.  We can help children develop more efficient and effective PFC.

Books to Read with Children
It's Hard to be Five: Learning How to Work My Control Panel by Jamie Lee Curtis

This song is part of our Songs of Self-Control series, which consist of the following twelve song titles:
Breathe
Emotion
I Get Angry
Self Control
Stop and Think
Three Rules
Be Careful
Down in the Dumps
Golden Words
I Can Settle Down
I Can Wait
When a Kite Flies