16/03/2022
Many of the young people (and adults) I work with do not have very well developed communication skills. This can lead to conflicts with peers, staff, and family; hurt feelings that aren't shared; and needs that aren't met. Sharing and practicing constructive communication skills with young people can make a real tangible difference to how they get on in the world.
The first skill I share is using "I messages" when there is a problem. This is like Communication Skills 101!
"An I-message is an affirmation about our own feelings and circumstances that seeks to avoid judgment, guilt, or blame on the receiving person’s side.
When we use I-messages in assertive communication, our ultimate goal is to achieve a behavior change in the other person.
By focusing on the effects on ourselves, this type of communication is more likely to elicit a positive response, as the other party is less likely to feel defensive and more likely to make the change we need."
I've been hunting a visual that I can share with young people which makes the concept really clear and supports practice and I finally found just what I was looking for! This is a 5 page set that is free to download from veryspecialtales.com and includes examples, practice, and is all super pretty and clear too!
Download the full 5 page PDF set here: https://veryspecialtales.com/i-statements-examples-worksheets/
