I-Messages and Classroom Management - post

An I-message tells a child how you feel about their behavior in a respectful manner.

Statements include four parts:

• The child’s behavior
• Your feelings about the behavior
• The effects of the behavior
• What they need to do instead.

When speaking to children about their behavior it is important to use I-Messages. This provides the child with a clear understanding of the inappropriate behavior, your feelings about the behavior, the effects of the behavior, and what you need them to do instead.

Examples:

• When you are fooling around and distracting the group I feel frustrated because that means all the other children have to wait for you to get started on the activity. I really need you to stay on task and not distract others when I am trying to start an activity.
• It scares me when I see you throwing sand because it can get into other children’s eyes and hurt them.
• I am feeling upset that you are getting up from your mat because it is quiet time and some children are trying to sleep.
• When you knock down Billy’s tower, it makes me sad because he worked really hard to build it.

Want to learn more about I-messages and other behavior management strategies? Check out the following courses at H&H Child Care Training Center.

• Staying Positive: Guidance for Preschoolers
• Viewing Guidance in a Positive Light
• Classroom Management is Collaboration!
• Mysteries of Challenging Behavior Solved
• Turning Behavior Around for Toddlers and Preschoolers