The Effects Of The Turtle Technique On Self-esteem – You Are Parents

Getting children to develop the ability to control themselves is not easy, especially if they have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or behavioral problems.

In these cases, it is recommended to use techniques designed for this purpose, such as the turtle technique. In addition to serving to improve internal control, it offers multiple benefits for children. In this article, we are going to talk about the effects of the turtle technique on self-esteem.

But it must first be clarified that self-control is the ability to regulate the intensity, frequency and duration of one’s own behaviors, emotions and feelings. This includes dealing with impulses, stress, frustration, anger, aggression, fear, etc.

What is the turtle technique?

The turtle technique is based on the fact that this animal, when it feels threatened, hides and folds into its shell.

Likewise, a child can do the same to control their own impulses, behaviors and emotions in a given situation. To correctly use this technique of self-control of the child, it is necessary to follow the following steps, teaching the little one to:

1. Respond to the word “turtle”: when he hears this key word, he must shrink, putting his head in his arms.
2. Relax the muscles in a turtle position : relaxing the muscles helps prevent disruptive and aggressive behavior.
3. Use problem-solving techniques (modeling, group discussion, role play, corrective reinforcement, social reinforcement, mediation, etc.), valuing the different alternatives that exist to manage the situation that leads you to decide to play the turtle .

It is important to teach these three steps gradually. That is to say that as long as one of the levels is not mastered, it is not possible to move on to the next. This allows the child to gradually familiarize himself with the technique. He will be able to use each of the procedures and instructions correctly.

Benefits of using the turtle technique

As we have seen, the turtle technique is used for the main purpose of allowing the child to learn to control himself. In addition, this technique is beneficial for:

• Improve the expression and recognition of feelings
• Increase social skills
• Understand different points of view and opinions

• Improve the decision-making process
• Know how to easily resolve conflicts
• Increase self-esteem

But do you know why this technique improves children’s self-esteem?

The effects of the turtle technique on self-esteem

Mastering the turtle technique has very positive effects on a child’s self-esteem or self-esteem. This is because the little one:

• Learn to control yourself without outside intervention (mother, father, teachers, etc.). In this way, the child feels fulfilled and has confidence in his own abilities.
• The failure to adopt inappropriate behavior allows him to receive positive reinforcement from his parents, his teachers, etc. Thanks to this, he feels satisfied with his actions and decisions, seeing that they are rewarded by his reference figures.

• He sees himself as an older child who knows how to use different problem-solving techniques, rather than displaying impulsive and unreasonable behavior.