The Expressive School Age

“You’re soooo mean!” Ever hear these words out of your school age child? Kids in elementary school are able to express how they ‘feel’ with words now and do not hesitate to practice expressing themselves. This can be, to say the least, rather irritating to us as parents, but it is also an opportunity ‘to teach’ or discipline your child! ·        

What would Dr. Ann say?
Remember to ‘model’ for your kids how to express feelings in an appropriate way. So when you think someone says something mean to you as an adult express that to your child by telling them a story that might sound something like this…”Today my friend said she didn’t like it when I was late to lunch and I’d better not be late again”!I thought that was so mean! But, I decided not to say, “You’re so mean”, but I took a big deep breath and turned around and walked away. That is how our family should act when we feel someone is being mean!