"I"
Statements
Statements
Your nine-year-old wants to play a card game with you but you are right in the middle of making dinner, what would be an appropriate "I" statement for this scenario?
"I hear you want me to play. I'm feeling torn because I wish I could play with you, but I need to make dinner and can't do both. Thank you for understanding."
Your child keeps leaving his toys out on the floor, what is a good logical consequence for this behavior?
"I think it is time for these toys to go on time out. They are never in their basket when they are supposed to be."
Your son was acting up at dinner flinging food all around, you gave your son the choice to eat dinner nicely or to leave the table. He chose to leave the table, but now at bedtime he is hungry, what would be a good way to lead with empathy in this scenario?
"I know how it feels to be hungry, if I miss a meal I feel hungry as well, I will make sure to cook extra breakfast tomorrow morning."
Your child is getting ready for bed, what would be a good choice to offer them?
Your toddler builds a block tower they are very proud of, what would be a good way to encourage rather than praise?
"How did you figure that out?"
Dad is taking a much-needed nap and has asked for an hour of quiet to get some rest, 5-year-old decided it is a good idea to play cars very loudly, what would be a good "I" statement for this scenario?
"Because your play is so loud, even though it's great that you're having fun, I'm worried that Dad will wake up and not get enough sleep. Please play more quietly."
Your son has come in late for curfew with no explanation, what is a good logical consequence for this behavior?
"I have noticed you have been coming home about 40 minutes late for curfew, I get so worried when you get home without keeping me in the loop. Dad and I decided you are going to have a curfew that is 40 minutes earlier for a week. I wouldn't want my curfew to be any earlier if I were you."
Your son pushed his sister and seems unremorseful, what would be a good way to teach the child how to lead with empathy?
"Look at your sister—she’s very sad. She’s crying. She’s rubbing her arm where you pushed her. Let’s see if she is okay."
Your toddler is anti vegetables lately, what would be a good choice to offer them?
"Would you like to have carrots or peas with dinner tonight?"
Your child is disappointed with the picture they drew, they say, "I hate this picture, it is so ugly!" What would be a good way to encourage rather than praise?
Asking "What did you learn for next time you try?"
Your 6-year-old is waving a wooden toy around dangerously close to the baby's head, what would a good statement be in this situation?
"I get nervous when I see you waving your toy close to the baby because the baby could get hurt and I know you wouldn't like that to happen, please stop playing with the toy that way in here."
Your child said he finished his homework on the bus, but the teacher called the next day to say he hasn't been turning completed homework, what is a good logical consequence for this behavior?
"I spoke to Mr. Davis about your homework today, we are concerned that you are struggling to find time to finish your homework, so you are going to stay in at recess for a few days to get caught up."
Your toddler has developed a fear of the barking dog that lives next door, what would be a good way to lead with empathy?
"Are you feeling scared of that dog? He is a nice dog but he is barking really loud. That can be scary. Do you want me to hold your hand until he walks by?”
Your child has been very opinionated about what they wear lately and you want to have a nice school photo this year, what would be a good choice to offer them?
"Would you like to wear this blue shirt or this red shirt?"
Your child brings home a science project they got a good grade on, what would be a good way to encourage rather than praise?
"You worked hard on that project, you must feel proud of yourself!"
Your daughter is in her room listening to her music very loudly, you are trying to focus and are finding it difficult. This has been a sensitive subject with your daughter lately, what is a good "I" statement for this scenario?
"I am struggling to concentrate and get my job finished when the music is played that loudly, I would appreciate the volume being turned down below a 5, please."
Your daughter said some unkind things to her sister, what is a good logical consequence for this behavior?
"I can see you are struggling to find nice things to say to your sister, lets practice saying nice things! Please tell her 3 nice things about her, I will listen, I bet you will come up with some good ones."
Your daughter comes home from school feeling very upset because she got a bad grade on a test she didn't study for, what would be a good example of leading with empathy?
"I'm so, so sorry about your grade. I know how disappointed you must feel."
Your child needs a friendly reminder to finish their homework, what would be a good choice to offer them?
Would you like to do your homework now, or later this afternoon?
You are working on a family yeard project, your seven-year-old is helping happily, what would be a good way to encourage rather than praise?
"Thanks for helping so happily!"
Your teenage son yells at you in frustration, when you announce dinner for the 3rd time. What is a successful "i" statement in this situation?
"I listen to people who speak kindly to me, and respect my time, dinner is ready for those who are interested in being respectful."
Your kids tracked in a bunch of mud because they didn't take their shoes off when they came inside, what is a good logical consequence for this behavior?
"I worked really hard to clean this floor today, It is your turn to mop the floor, I will sit here if you have any questions about how to do the job I can answer them for you."
Your son missed football practice for the third time and his coach yelled at him in front of the team for not being a reliable teammate, what would be a good way to lead with empathy?
"I'm so sorry that happened. Being yelled at is awful. Take some time if you need it."
Your teenage has been dishing out the attitude and spoke unkindly to you, what would be a good choice to offer them?
"Would you like to apologize to me for your hurtful comment, or would you rather go to your room to cool off first?"
Your son is struggling with a math assignment, saying, "It's too hard, I am no good at this." What would be a good way to encourage rather than praise?
"That feeling of math being hard is the feeling of your brain growing and learning!"