Choice Challenge Activity: Rethink

Choice Challenge Activity: Rethink #12

Now that you have read My Teacher Is Not an Octopus, reviewed the Choice Challenge blogs, and tried the activities from the book — here is more practice. Three activities per choice for the specific behavior. No timer. No one size fits all. Parents know their child(ren). Teachers know their students. Give each a try. Practice builds choice fitness.

When a child understands how to use the six choices, this leads to more fun. The choice becomes their own. The result is happier children, families, and classrooms.

These activities engage PILES. Physical, Intellectual, Language, Emotional, Social. They build teamwork. And they give a child the words to say, "I can do this."

The goal is not a timer. The goal is the choice becoming part of a child's internal dialogue. The words a child says to themselves when no one is watching.

The student will perform a desired better choice without being redirected or reminded.

Here are three ways to practice.

Activity 1: Rethink Spot

Goal: Make reflection safe and structured.

How to:

Sit in a spot chosen by the child.

Explain: "While in the Rethink Spot I will sit with you. You can talk about the rethink activity out loud or silently to yourself. I am here to support you either way."

Practice:

Think about two questions:

"What was my first choice?"

"What is my better choice?"

Stay with the child. No words needed. A calm presence is the whole point. If the child wants to talk, listen. If they do not, this is okay too. The spot is a safe space to process the questions.

Later, when a poor choice happens, guide the child to their rethink spot and use the same two questions.

Activity 2: "First Choice / Better Choice" Chart

Goal: Help children see the difference between old and new choices.

How to:

Draw two columns:

"First Choice" and "Better Choice."

Fill in examples together:

First Choice: "I yell." → Better Choice: "I use my words."

"First Choice: "I grab." → Better Choice: "I wait my turn."

Keep the chart visible and add real examples over time.

Activity 3: Open Door Stories

Goal: Show that rethinking opens doors, not closes them.

How to:

Tell a short story:

"Joey shouted at a friend and lost a turn in the game."

Ask:

"What was Joey's first choice?"

"What better choice could Joey make next time?"

"How would that open the door to what Joey wanted?"

Connect it:

"Our first choice can be an obstacle. Our better choice can be an open door."

Where did this choice begin?

When a poor choice keeps happening, walk backward through the six to find where the chain broke.

Did we follow directions?

Did we use words?

Did we own the behavior?

Did we wait and take turns?

Did we breathe and calm?

Did we rethink?

The answer is usually the choice skipped. This is the one to practice next.

How the choices work together in this activity

Rethinking is where a poor choice becomes a better one. A child cannot rethink while in fight-or-flight. Breathe and Calm (#5) is a first step. The child needs to Rethink (#6) to name the first choice and the better option. Use Words (#2) is where the apology lives, if one is needed. And Wait and Take Turns (#4) is often the skill that, once practiced, creates patience assisting with the ability to problem solve using the six choices. Follow Directions (#1) and Own Behavior (#3) work hand in hand if the others are working, and the skills modeled. These two are a combo pack of success.

Consider this example: Joey grabs a marker and yells.

Breathe and Calm (#5):

Joey sits in the Rethink Spot. Takes three bunny breaths.

Use Words (#2):

Theodore says: "Joey, I don't like when you grab my marker. It hurts my feelings."

Rethink (#6):

Joey says: "My first choice was grabbing the marker. My new better choice is asking first."

Own Behavior (#3):

Joey says: "Theodore, I apologize for grabbing the marker. This was not kind."

One moment. Four choices working together.

A simple takeaway

Questions to ask when rethinking:

"What was my first choice?"

"What is my better choice?"

Review:

What is the Choice Challenge? Blog and Choice Challenge blogs one through six for extended definitions from My Teacher Is Not an Octopus.

All six choices are a collaborative learning experience. They partner with each other on most occasions.

Children need consistent practice with this strategy before the skill becomes automatic.

Each child experiences social-emotional development at different speeds and levels. As a child uses the choices interacting with others, adjustments increase competency. The foundation through patience and practice builds behavior muscles.

Every time a child names their first choice and picks a new one without being prompted, the skill is building. Filling gaps or holes, as explained in the blog What is the Choice Challenge?" and the Choice Challenge guide, is practice. Practice builds choice fitness.

Choice Challenge Guide will be released in eBook and paperback. You will have the option to download for free by signing up or buy online. The choice is yours :)

About the author

Patience Filippo is a children's author, artist, educator, and veteran with decades of classroom experience. She created the Choice Challenge: Poor to Better Decisions for Everyday Behavior to help kids and grown-ups be better humans, one better choice at a time. The Choice Challenge is the framework behind My Teacher Is Not an Octopus, a self-regulating behavior management book for early learners. Begin at birth. Grow into lifelong learning.

Empowering happiness through literacy.

Find Patience online https://linktr.ee/askmisspatience