When I was teaching 5th grade I would hold social lessons, where I would explicitly do a lesson on how to handle and navigate social concepts. It’s something I feel very passionate about to this day.
I whole heartily believe kids need to be explicitly taught how to navigate things so they have a tool box. It was also a time they were able to share their own skills with others. All around it was just beneficial.
Over the course of the year we began to have issues with arguments breaking out where one child had told the other to “stop” but the other refused to listen until someone was hurt or told a teacher. Sound familiar guys? It should because it’s pretty standard for school aged kids.
Anyway, I got tired of it and I didn’t want it to be something standard for our kids because there is a HUGE underlying issue. If you don’t see it, don’t worry, I’ll be spelling it out for you later on. This got my wheels turning. Shout out to my old school that fostered restorative justice which gave me the opportunity to do what I did next!
I went home and came up with a social lesson one in which would get the kids involved and invested. Thankfully, the school environment and my kiddos had fostered an open community with a lot of buy in from everyone.
I came in the next day with a lesson called, “Bringing Power Back to the Word STOP”
Guys, the kids and I were both frustrated stop was no longer working and we all knew it was unacceptable. Long story short, we discussed why it was important for that word to have power, how we could restore that power, and statements we could use to make that happen. We practiced and walked away all doing what we could.
Bug and I get in tickle fights often and all too often it takes me saying ” that’s enough” sternly or her saying stop twice before the tickling ceases. I know this seems small but guys it’s not. I revisited that lesson I did with my fifth graders and I did it with my 4-year-old. Here’s why:
Kids going through school tend to play with limits and lines drawn in the sand. However, personal lines and boundaries of others should not be a part of that. Friends can cross lines. Boyfriends can cross lines. People cross lines. I want my kids to be able to say stop with meaning, I want them to know how to say it. I also wants my kids to respect it coming from others. I want them to know that personal lines and boundaries are not meant to be crossed or pushed by anyone else. As she gets older she will define her own lines in her life. However, I will give her all the tools I can so that she can define those lines without the pressure or fear of conformity. Teaching her the power of the word stop is one of those ways.
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