How Parents Teach Assertiveness Skills to Kids - 5 Steps
This video, with assertive skills for kids, includes transcript and captions. It shares 5 steps that teach your kids to speak with confidence and respect.
Teach children to be assertive at home by practicing these skills often. Why? Because kids who are direct, respectful, and self-assured become effective leaders. They feel good about themselves too.
Transcript
How Parents Teach Assertiveness Skills to Kids - 5 Steps
“Stop calling me names!” whined Patty. Her brother, Kevin, mocked her, “You’re such a baby.”.
Their mother wanted Patty to speak with confidence.
She wanted Kevin to speak with respect.
She needed to teach them assertiveness skills. But how?
Please practice these assertive skills before teaching your kids. Why?
Because your example is the most powerful way to learn.
5 Helpful Assertiveness Tips:
Ask your kids to role-play passive Patty and aggressive Kevin by using:
1. The Assertive Voice –
Use short sentences
Talk with a firm voice
Speak clearly and calmly.
Use respectful tones
2. The Assertive Face
Use direct eye contact.
Look serious if needed.
Look pleasant if it fits.
3. The Assertive Posture
Stand or sit straight.
Hold shoulders back.
Face the other person.
4. The Assertive Words
When you… (Name the behavior.)
I feel…
I’d like…
5. Putting It All Together
Patty:
“Kevin, when you call me names,
I feel upset.
I’d like you to talk to me nicely.”
Kevin:
“Patty, when you whine,
I feel irritated.
I’d like you to talk in a nicer voice.”
Keep rehearsing until your children look, sound, and act assertive and confident.
Encourage your children to continue speaking up because
assertive children are direct, respectful and confident. They make good leaders too.
The Assertive Child – A Poem for Kids
Jean Tracy, MSS
The assertive child
Speaks with respect.
His tone is calm,
His words direct.
The assertive child
Looks in your eyes.
Her face is kind,
She tells no lies.
The assertive child
Knows how to ask.
“Can I?” “May I?”
He isn’t brash.
The assertive child
Speaks up when sad.
“When you hurt me,
I felt so bad.”
The assertive child
Speaks up in class.
His voice is strong.
With ease he asks.
The assertive child
Is confident.
She feels secure,
She is content.
You too can be
An assertive child,
Be kind and firm.
Be calm and mild.
Your children can speak up and be assertive.
They’ll be confident, respectful and become leaders too.
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