Pause Bunny: Teaching the Power of the Moment Before
Have you ever watched a student blurt out an answer mid-question…
Grab something before asking…
Or walk off the mat when they’re meant to stay?
That’s not defiance. It’s inhibitory control — the executive function skill that helps students stop themselves before doing something automatic.
This week in Thera-Scholars, we’re introducing a tool to help:
🐰 Pause Bunny — a visual prompt that teaches kids how to pause, breathe, and check in before they act.
Why It Matters:
Inhibitory control isn’t just about impulse — it’s about:
- Transitioning calmly
- Waiting your turn
- Starting when you’re ready (but not before)
- Managing behaviour without shame
And for many of our students — especially those with ADHD, trauma history, or high emotional reactivity — these skills need to be explicitly taught, modelled, and reinforced.
How to Use the Tool:
✅ Introduce Pause Bunny during a calm, playful moment
✅ Practise “sniffing the air” like a bunny when transitioning between tasks
✅ Link it to the STOP skill later (Week 4) for deeper emotional control
✅ Display it near group time areas, doorways, or calm corners
Try using shared language like: 💬 “Let’s pause like Bunny before we choose.”
💬 “Did Bunny sniff the air, or did we zoom ahead?”
You’ll get the printable visual tomorrow, and a student reflection check-in on Friday.
Need help applying this to individual students? SHS can support with in-class coaching, small groups, or behaviour/emotional planning.
For more info:
Autism Thera-Scholars Teachers Community
📧 info@succeedhealthcare.com.au
🌐 www.succeedhealthcare.com.au
#SHS #SucceedHealthcareSolutions #NorthLakes #ExecutiveFunction #InhibitoryControl #PrimaryTeaching