Helping Kids Who Can't Sit Still

Some kids simply have a harder time sitting still. It doesn’t mean they’re bad kids, or that they’re making poor choices on purpose. For many children, especially those with active minds and curious spirits, it’s genuinely hard to control their bodies.

As educators, counselors, and caregivers, our goal isn’t to make these kids “behave,” instead it’s to give them strategies. The book It’s Hard to Be a Verb! by Julia Cook helps us do just that.

Through the story of Louis, a spirited boy whose body moves faster than his brain, this book uses humor and compassion to show what it feels like to be constantly in motion. It validates kids’ experiences while helping adults understand what’s happening beneath the surface.

When Louis learns to pause, breathe, and calm his “verb energy,” he’s not learning to be still… he’s learning self-awareness, which is where real growth begins!

Practical Strategies to Support Kids Who “Can’t Sit Still”

1. Normalize Movement. Acknowledge that needing to move isn’t “bad,”it’s part of how some kids process and learn. Build movement breaks into transitions, lessons, and even quiet work time.

2. Teach Body Awareness. Help kids notice what happens in their bodies when they feel wiggly or distracted. Try using phrases like, “What’s your body telling you right now?”

3. Model Self-Regulation. Demonstrate how to take deep breaths, stretch, or pause when energy feels high. When adults model calm, kids learn that regulation is a skill, not a punishment.

4. Use Visuals and Tools. Create “Energy Meters” or “Calm Menus” so kids can identify when their energy is rising and choose strategies - like breathing, doodling, or a short walk - to refocus.

5. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection. When a child recognizes and manages their energy, name it! A simple “You noticed your wiggles and took a break… that’s self-control!” builds intrinsic motivation.

How to Use This Book

For Teachers. Use It’s Hard to Be a Verb! as a read-aloud early in the school year or before high-energy transitions.

• Discuss what it means to be a “verb” and why movement matters.

• Integrate short “verb breaks” to release energy throughout the day.

• Model how to pause, stretch, and breathe when energy feels big.

• Revisit Louis’s story before testing periods to remind students that focus is something we practice, not something we’re just born with.

  
  

For School Counselors. This book is ideal for small groups focused on impulse control or attention.

• Pair it with visuals like an “Energy Meter” or “Feelings Thermometer.”

• Ask reflective questions:

  • “What does your body do when your brain feels too fast?”

  • “What’s one way to calm your energy before it gets out of control?”

• Encourage students to track their progress across sessions, revisiting Louis’s story to celebrate growth.

  
  

For Parents and Caregivers. At home, this story turns frustration into understanding.

• When your child can’t sit still, try asking, “Looks like your body feels like a verb — what could help it slow down?”

• Create a “Focus Box” with fidgets, coloring tools, or noise-canceling headphones.

• Build short movement rituals before homework or bedtime to help your child’s body transition into focus mode.

Guided Reflection Questions & Discussion Prompts

For Students

• Self-Awareness

  • When does your body feel like Louis’s?

  • How can you tell when your body wants to move more than your mind wants to focus?

  • What happens in your body when you start to feel wiggly or distracted?

    
    

• Self-Management

  • What are some things Louis did to help himself focus?

  • What’s one strategy you can try next time you need to calm your energy?

  • What helps your brain and body feel ready to learn?

    
    

• Empathy & Respect

  • How do you think Louis felt when people told him to “stop moving”?

  • How can we show kindness to classmates who find it hard to sit still?

    
    

For Teachers & Counselors

• Classroom Reflection

  • What patterns do I notice when energy runs high?

  • How can I integrate short “verb breaks” into our daily routine?

  • How can I model regulation through my own behavior?

• SEL Integration

  • How can this story support students working on focus or impulse control?

  • What visuals or routines could reinforce the “Find Your Focus” skill?

  • Which CASEL competencies can I highlight in our follow-up lessons?

Counseling or Small Group Work

• Pair this book with an “Energy Meter” check-in (1 = calm, 5 = bouncing).

• Create a group poster: “Our Favorite Ways to Slow Down Our Verbs.”

• Revisit the story over several sessions to track growth in awareness and control.

  
  

For Parents & Caregivers

• Reflection at Home

  • When do you notice your child’s “verb energy” showing up most?

  • What situations make it harder for your child to focus?

  • How can you create routines that help your child move before they need to sit still?

    
    

• Family Connection

  • What helps our family calm down together after a busy day?

  • How can we turn reminders like “sit still” into questions like “what does your body need right now?”

  • How can we celebrate the strengths that come with high energy - creativity, enthusiasm, and curiosity?

Feedback on the Teacher & Counselor Guide

Julia Cook’s Supplementary Teacher’s Guide is a great companion to the story for the classroom. It includes reproducible worksheets, small-group activities, and reflection questions that reinforce self-awareness and regulation skills.

Keep in mind that some activities may need language simplification for younger students. I would also recommend adding brief mindfulness moments before or after activities to deepen reflection.

Overall, the guide transforms this picture book into a multi-day SEL unit that helps kids see, name, and manage their energy, rather than be defined by it.

Final Thoughts

Children who struggle to sit still aren’t trying to be difficult, they’re just communicating through movement. Our role is to listen with curiosity, not frustration, and to equip them with the tools they need to thrive.

It’s Hard to Be a Verb! reminds us that understanding beats correction, empathy outlasts irritation, and every child deserves the chance to learn how to find their calm.

When we teach kids to notice their energy, and help them manage it with compassion, we give them more than self-control… we give them confidence.

Get the Book Here: https://amzn.to/4nYiEXO

Get the Supplementary Teacher's Guide Here: https://amzn.to/476nufO