Perhaps you need to say what age group of child you would be addressing. Are you
ID: 446488 • Letter: P
Question
Perhaps you need to say what age group of child you would be addressing.
Are you conveying support for your child? Good! Are you giving veiled (passive aggressive) criticism? Don’t!
Are you making martyr statements (statements about "poor me" and "how hard I work" statements beginning with "I" and having complaints in them)? Many parenting textbooks like "I" sentences, but I find that they usually end up being angry complaints directed at the child. For this assignment, I would not use "I" statements.
Please do not use sarcasm. Sarcasm is always interpreted very negatively by children. The angry message we think we hide in clever or funny sarcasm shouts loud and clear to children and hurts them terribly.
No threats, even hidden threats!
Do not ever compare siblings. That produces resentment by children.
Sometimes a sentence is SO negative you cannot use it at all. Please substitute a positive, motivating sentence for any really bad, negative sentence.
Important: You are welcome to share these and ask for help from spouses, friends, co-workers, parents, anyone! You may collect as much advice from friends as you need to do this assignment. Often, the best sentences come from teen age children of classmates!
1."Look at the dirty footprints you put on my clean kitchen floor. You never consider how hard I work."
2."You are the sloppiest person. Just look at your room!"
3."If you don't start doing your share around here, I'm going to cut your allowance."
4."Take the garbage out this minute and no back talk, young man."
5."Now, do you think that was a nice thing to say about your friend? You should learn to treat your friends the way you want to be treated."
6."Don't step off the sidewalk. You'll get hit by a car."
7."Why are you doing this to me, hard as I work?"
8."Why can't you try as hard in school as your sister does?"
9."You knew you had to get up early, but you were so smart and stayed up until midnight."
10."If you continue in the same manner, you'll never amount to anything."
Explanation / Answer
1. This sentence uses a martyr statement and also uses "I". It should be avoided. The sentence should be re-phrased as "Look at the dirty footprints you put on the kitchen floor. We should always have a clean kicthen floor for better hygiene".
2. This sentence uses a negative statement and will hurt the child. The sentence should be re-phrased as "Having an arranged and cleaner room will be useful and more convenient for you".
3. This sentence has a threat - I'm going to cut your allowance. It should not be used. The sentence should be re-phrased as "You should earn your allowance by start doing your share around here".
4. Again there is an element of threat as the young man has been asked to take the garbage out immediately without back talking. The sentence should be re-phrased as "I would really appreciate if you will take out the garbage now".
5. This is a good sentence. There is no sarcasm or threat or use of martyr statement or sibling comparison. It is a very positive way of putting things in perspective. Treat others the way you want to be treated yourself is a strong positive sentence.
6. There is a negative sentence - "You'll get hit by a car". This should be avoided. The sentence should be re-phrased as "Don't step off the sidewalk for your own personal safety".
7. This sentence uses "I". The sentence can be more polite and positive - "I request you to not do this to me"
8. This sentence uses sibling comparison. It should be avoided. he sentence should be re-phrased as "You have great potential and you can do wonders if you try harder"
9. This sentence is full of sarcasm. The sentence should be re-phrased without any sarcasm - "You shoud have slept on time if you knew you had to get up early".
10. This is a highly negative sentence. The re-phrased sentence should be "You should strive to work harder to succeed in life".