Decider Skills- Parent Information
At Kinnoull Primary School, Decider Skills are a key part of how we support children’s emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn. These skills are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and give children simple, practical ways to understand and manage their feelings, thoughts and behaviour. By using Decider Skills across the school, children develop a shared language and toolkit to help them respond positively to challenges.
We teach these skills regularly through class learning, wellbeing activities and everyday situations. Children learn how to recognise their emotions, use calming strategies, challenge unhelpful thoughts and make positive choices. This helps them stay focused, build confidence, manage friendships and cope with setbacks. It also supports a calm, safe and supportive learning environment for all.
Supporting Decider Skills at Home
Families play an important role in helping children develop these skills. You can support your child by using the same language and strategies at home—such as encouraging them to talk about how they feel, practise calming techniques like deep breathing, and ‘stop and think’ before reacting.
Simple routines can make a big difference, for example:
- Talking about feelings at the end of the day
- Modelling calm behaviour
- Praising effort in managing emotions
Visual reminders can also help children use these skills independently. You can find a set of Decider Skills visuals in the visual section of this website.
You can also access the Decider Skills App by following this link The Decider Skills. This app shows each of the 12 skills and gives information regarding how to utilise each one.
Parents can also attend decider skills training- regular training opportunities are offered with dates published on the NHS Tayside CAMHS Facebook page which can be found here- (1) Facebook.
Understanding Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is at the heart of Decider Skills. It is a child’s ability to manage their emotions, behaviour and attention. When children develop strong self-regulation, they are better able to focus, cope with challenges and make positive choices.
Helping Your Child Develop Self-Regulation
You can support your child by:
- Keeping routines predictable
- Ensuring time for rest and physical activity
- Staying calm and consistent
- Offering choices where possible
- Helping them reflect on what worked well and what to try next time
Self-regulation takes time to develop. With patience, practice and support from both home and school, children become more confident and independent in managing themselves.