Abstract

Meet Self-Control, a superhero who wants to teach young children his super powers of self-control! Anxiety, frustration, anger, and other difficult feelings won't stand a chance against their new-found powers.

Self-Control teaches children with emotional and sensory regulation difficulties aged approximately 4-7 how to calm themselves using self-massage, deep pressure, breathing exercises, and activities such as making an imaginary list and finding their own peaceful place. This illustrated book also features an appendix with photocopiable super power charts, reinforcers, and reminder tools to ensure that parents, teachers, and other professionals can support children in upholding superhero strategies even after the book has been read.

Intended for children with all kinds of behavioural, sensory, emotional and anger problems, this book's jazzy, 'with it' style should appeal to young children. As it must be used with an adult, it could well be something whole classes can benefit from, particularly if there are several children who actually have these problems...the exercises are fun and easy to do. Sensory processing has much to do with children who wiggle a lot, such as those with ADHD and those who get so involved with physical activity that they can't stop by themselves...lots of black and white illustrations add to the whole, and information at the back of the book for parents, teachers, therapists and carers will be of great use in planning sessions.
HealthyBooks
Lauren Brukner is a Senior Occupational Therapist who lives in New York City with her husband and her three children, two of whom have emotional and sensory integration difficulties. Lauren has appeared as a guest on The Autism Show and The Manhattan Neighborhood Network's School-Home Connection. Her books have been listed as resources on websites such as Real Simple Magazine, Everyday Health, AOL's Health and Wellness, MSN Health, Mothering.com, About.com, and Friendship Circle, as well as numerous school district curricula around the world. She specializes in sensory integration and self-regulation strategies for children and young people, and their implementation in home, school, and community settings. She holds advanced training and certification in Integrated Listening Systems, and is a Certified Screener for Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity. Lauren is the author of The Kids' Guide to Staying Awesome and In Control and How to Be a Superhero Called Self-Control, which won gold in the Mom's Choice Awards, 2016 for family friendly media, products and services. Lauren is also a contributing author to Autism Parenting Magazine and blogs at www.awesomeandincontrol.com
Special Needs Book Review highly recommends How to Be a Superhero Called Self-Control!: Super Powers to Help Younger Children to Regulate their Emotions and Senses by Lauren Brukner, MS, OTR/L. Adults will value Part 2 written for Parents with tips to make the most of the strategies and activities. Here they will find guidelines how to approach each section of the book and lots of photocopiable or downloadable resources that can be laminated and used many times. There are super power charts, reinforcers, certificates and reminder tools to support children in upholding superhero strategies after the book has been read.
Special Needs Book Review
A fantastic book full of easy to implement strategies for school and home. Proactive strategies that make emotional management (self control) fun, accessible and achievable! I love the timesaver with proformas and pictures ready to use. Recommend used for whole class and family!
Sue Larkey, Author, Teacher, International Speaker
This book places the child in charge, providing them with tools and strategies. It uses a superhero figure to guide the child, giving them useful, practical and fun ways of coping and managing, helping them in turn to become their own self-help genie, find their inner guru, and become their own expert, feeling instructor.
Alice Cruttwell, Shropshire Public Health Curriculum Advisor, author of the award winning Shropshire Respect Yourself programme and key contributor to the PSHE Association primary Mental Health curriculum
This is a super book for empowering kids, teens, and even adults with real-life power tools for managing frustration, anxiety, anger, sensory challenges and more!
Lindsey Biel, OTR/L, author of Sensory Processing Challenges: Effective Clinical Work with Kids & Teens, and co-author of Raising a Sensory Smart Child
A superhero to rival all other superheroes! We are all in need of heroes. None more than those that have difficulties with managing frustrations, anxiety, anger, emotional regulation, and the ins and outs of sensory processing. Lauren Brukner stands at the forefront of her profession and presents this book as a beacon of hope and a positive force in the lives of both children and the adults that care for them. By breaking down and simplifying such complex issues into small digestible bits, the text is instantly entertaining and enlightening all at once.
Dr. Frederick B. Covington, OTD
Lauren Brukner's relatable narrative and pictures put words to charged emotions and feelings, empowering students with strategies to conquer them... Be prepared to "Throw your Worries Away!"
Beverly Moskowitz, DOT, MS OTR/L FAOTA, CEO at Real OT Solutions, Inc.