Talking About Our Problem
Here's What To Do
1
Give your child and another person (a sibling, friend, or adult) one toy each. Then, introduce a third exciting toy that both might want.
2
Practice what we can say to tell others how we feel and talk about both wanting the same thing..
3
Help your child recognize there is a problem, and use their words to talk about it. Help your child talk about the problem, say,
4
Together take turns practicing how to use words to tell others there is a problem.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Put away all distractions. Take four big breaths together.
E
Engage:
- “You really want that toy! It looks like there’s a problem. Can you tell me what happened?”
- “You need to use words to say what you want or how you are feeling”
E
Encourage:
- If your child struggles, model words they can use, such as "I really want to play with that, but you have it."
- Acknowledge that it’s okay to feel upset! “Let’s talk about it together.”
R
Reflect:
- “How did it feel to talk about your feelings?”
Not quite ready?
Use stuffed animals or puppets to act out a sharing problem and model talking about feelings.
Ready for more?
Practice in different situations, like when taking turns with a swing at the park or waiting for a snack.
As your child masters this skill...
They will become more confident in recognizing and discussing problems they have with others.