As parents and even teachers, it can be easy to default to certain phrases that we heard as children. Research has shown over the years that words truly matter and some slight changes can completely change the outcome that we’re looking for. Here are some examples.
Instead of:
“Be quiet.”
“What a mess!”
“Do you need help?”
“I explained how to do this yesterday.”
“Do I need to separate you?”
“Stop crying.”
“Do you have any questions?”
“You’re okay.”
“It’s not that hard.”
Try:
“Can you use a softer voice?”
“It looks like you had fun! How can we clean up?
“I’m here to help if you need me.”
“Maybe I can show you another way.”
“Could you use a break?”
“It’s okay to cry.”
“What questions do you have?”
“How are you feeling?”
“You can do hard things.”
Which ones will you try with someone you love today?