Not Too Quiet, Not Too Loud
TARGET:
6-8 years
INTENSITY:
20 min / 2x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Ability to Communicate Harmoniously with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Expressing Myself Nonviolently and Respectfully
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
Agency and Autonomy
Critical Thinking
MATERIALS
Three-mode diagram (passive / assertive / aggressive)
Scenario cards
DETAILED PROCEDURE
This activity works best one-on-one, or with one child at a time within a small group. Explain calmly to the child: "There are three ways to communicate a need: passive (don't say it), aggressive (say it with force), or assertive (say it clearly and respectfully)."
Step 1
Demonstrate all three for the same scenario. Children identify each mode.
Step 2
Discuss: why do people go passive? Why aggressive? What makes assertiveness hard?
Step 3
Say gently to the child: "Assertive doesn't mean loud. It means clear and kind at the same time."
Step 4
Practice: convert 5 passive and 5 aggressive statements into assertive ones.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child correctly identifies all 3 communication modes in scenarios.
The child converts passive and aggressive statements to assertive ones.
The child uses assertive communication in a real interaction once this week.