I Statements
Fill in the blank:
“I feel ___ when ___ because ___.”
“I feel mad when I have to stop playing because I was having fun.”
What does active listening mean?
Showing someone you are listening with your eyes, body, and words.
Your fists are tight, your face feels hot, and you want to yell. What feeling might this be?
Anger, frustration, or feeling overwhelmed.
Name one coping skill you can do with your hands.
Drawing, coloring, squeezing a stress ball, building Legos, doing a puzzle.
What is grief?
Grief is what we feel when we lose or miss someone or something important.
What is a boundary?
A boundary is a rule or limit that helps people feel safe and respected.
Your mom says, “You never listen!”
How can she say it as an I statement?
“I feel frustrated when I repeat myself because I want us to work together.”
Name one way your body can show you are listening.
Looking toward the person, calm hands, nodding, facing them, or putting distractions down.
Your stomach hurts before talking about something hard. What feeling might this be?
Nervous, scared, worried, or anxious.
How can music help when you have big feelings?
It can calm your body, help you feel understood, or help you let feelings out safely.
True or false:
Grief only means crying.
False. Grief can look like anger, quiet, tiredness, worry, confusion, or acting silly.
Is this a boundary or a threat?
“If you yell at me, I’m going to take a break and come back when we’re calm.”
Boundary.
You feel annoyed because someone keeps talking while you are trying to play.
Make an I statement.
“I feel annoyed when I hear lots of talking because I need quiet.”
Mom says, “I’m tired and overwhelmed.”
What could you say back?
“You’re tired and have a lot going on.”
You miss someone and feel heavy inside. What feeling might this be?
Sadness, grief, missing them, or loneliness.
You are too mad to talk. Pick one coping skill:
A. Draw it
B. Yell insults
C. Slam a door
A. Draw it.
Name one way people can remember someone they miss.
Tell a story, look at pictures, draw them, listen to a song, light a candle, keep a memory item.
Give an example of a body boundary.
“I don’t want a hug right now.”
“Please don’t touch my stuff.”
“I need space.”
Act it out:
Say an I statement using a calm voice and calm body.
Any calm I statement counts.
Pick the best listening response:
A. “Whatever.”
B. “So you’re saying you felt hurt?”
C. “That’s dumb.”
B. “So you’re saying you felt hurt?”
Draw a feeling without using words. Let the other person guess.
Any feeling drawing counts.
Puzzle challenge:
Why can puzzles help the ADHD brain calm down?
They give the brain something focused to do and can help the body slow down.
Why might someone get mad when they are actually sad?
Because sadness can feel too big, and anger sometimes protects the heart.
Mom needs quiet for 10 minutes. How can she say that kindly?
“I love you, and I need 10 quiet minutes. Then I can listen better.”
Fix this blaming statement:
“You always ruin everything!”
“I feel upset when plans change because I was excited.”
Listening challenge:
One person talks for 20 seconds. The other person repeats back one thing they heard.
Any correct reflection counts.
Name three feelings someone might have when they get in trouble.
Mad, embarrassed, sad, scared, ashamed, worried, confused, frustrated.
Make a coping plan:
Name one coping skill for anger, one for sadness, and one for worry.
Anger: music, breathing, drawing, taking space.
Sadness: blanket, music, talking, drawing a memory.
Worry: puzzle, grounding, breathing, asking for help.
Finish this sentence:
“When I miss someone, it helps me to ___.”
Draw, listen to music, talk, look at pictures, hold something special, take quiet time.
You want to keep playing, but Mom says screen time is done. What is a respectful response?
“I’m mad it’s over. Can I have a minute to finish this part?”
or
“I don’t like it, but I can take a break.”