Stand Up by hellaemo at Flickr.

Join me as we discuss:

How to raise assertive kids…without them being aggressive.

What the difference is between aggression and assertiveness.

A great article by Practical Katie at Practical Parenting on 10 tips for teaching assertiveness skills.

 
SHOW NOTES

We all seem to want to raise kids that are assertive.  Who tell the bully no at school, who won’t let another kid cut in line, or who can tell baby sister that it’s not alright to slap rather than run to us with the “DAAAAAD!  SHE HIT ME!!!!”

But often when you say the words “assertive” parents see defiant kids that fly in the face of authority and are disrespectful.  Absolutely not the case.  

Assertion means that they show a confident and forceful personality.  

This is a great thing that will keep them out of drugs, getting taken advantage of, or out of a white windowless van (not trying to be crude at all).

Assertive people know what they want and are willing to get it so long as it doesn’t violate someone else’s civil rights.  It is saying what you think with regard to how that person will feel after you say it.

Can a kid disagree with a grading style a teacher uses, without being a turd?  ABSOLUTELY!

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