Help students practice a simple pause, think, and choose routine with this printable self-regulation resource. The traffic-light visual and prompts offer concrete ways to slow down, reflect on a situation, and select a safer or more helpful response.

What's Included

• A poster introducing the red Pause, yellow Think, and green Choose steps.
• Printable traffic-light signs and color-coded prompt circles for creating a classroom choice tool.
• Red prompts with calming actions such as taking slow breaths, counting, and relaxing shoulders.
• Yellow reflection questions about feelings, what happened, possible consequences, and alternative choices.
• Green prompts for actions such as asking for help, taking a break, waiting a turn, and using kind words.
• Directions for preparing the prompts and displaying the poster.

How to Use It

Introduce and model the three steps before students need them. The directions suggest cutting out and laminating the prompts, attaching them to tongue depressors, and placing them in a container for students to choose from. Display the poster in a calming center or another visible support area. Use the visuals during classroom routines, small-group SEL instruction, or individual check-ins.

Skills Supported

Students practice pausing before acting, noticing feelings, considering what may happen next, and choosing a constructive response. The prompts also reinforce breathing and calming strategies, help-seeking, turn-taking, sharing feelings, and keeping hands to oneself.

Audience and Preparation

The simple language and visual traffic-light sequence are best suited to elementary learners, particularly students who benefit from explicit reminders and adult modeling. This is a printable classroom or counseling support, not a digital activity. Printing, cutting, and laminating are suggested; tongue depressors and a container are needed only if you make the prompt sticks as directed.