Stop-Think-Act - Free Problem Solving Resource
- One Step Ahead
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
Big emotions or stressful situations can make it difficult to make safe, positive choices. That’s where the Stop–Think–Act scaffold comes in - a simple, practical tool to help children, young people, and adults pause, reflect, and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.
This week we're sharing how you can introduce and use the Stop–Think–Act strategy at home, in school, or in therapy sessions.
Why Stop–Think–Act?
This framework helps to:
Build self-regulation skills
Improve problem-solving abilities
Support emotional awareness
Encourage independent decision-making
It’s especially helpful for children and young people who may find it tricky to manage strong feelings or who need a clear structure to guide their responses. No one really likes being told what to do, and utilising this as a tool can help people reflect on situations without feeling like they're "in trouble".
How do we use it?
STOP 🛑
Pause before reacting.
Ask: “What can I do to help calm me down?”
Strategies might include deep breathing, counting to 10, having a drink of water, or moving to a quiet space.
The goal is to create a short moment of calm to prevent impulsive reactions.
👉 Tip for carers and teachers: Practice “stopping” during calm times, so it becomes a skill the child can access when emotions are high. Always prompt to pause and stop when someone is showing warning signs - trying to get someone to stop when in crisis will not be effective.
THINK 💭
Reflect on what’s happening and consider options.
Ask: “What are my options? What could be happening?”
Encourage looking at the situation from different angles.
Brainstorm possible solutions — some might be good, some not so helpful, and that’s okay. The key is learning to consider options and different choices.
👉 Tip: Visual supports like option cards or a feelings chart can make the “think” step concrete and easier to remember.
ACT 🚀
Choose the best response and put it into practice.
Ask: “What can I do?”
Support children to pick an option that is safe, respectful, and effective.
Afterwards, reflect together: “How did that go? Would I do the same next time?”
👉 Tip: Praise effort, not just the outcome. Recognising the process builds confidence and reinforces problem-solving skills.
