CASEA: Giving Effective Instructions
Children are less likely to follow what they are being instructed to do when:
- They are asked to do too many things at once
- The instructions are vague
- Parents are not specific about when they want things to be done by
- The instruction is phrased as a question (don't ask it as a question if you don't want the answer to be 'No'
Using the tips offered in the video when giving instructions will help you to avoid the Escalation Trap. It's what happens when you ask, they ignore, you ask in a louder voice, they ignore, you ask (louder still and angry) and they finally do what you are asking. They've succeeded in getting a few extra minutes on the playstation and you at are at the end of your tether.
The student CASEA Program, focussed on Managing Strong Emotions. Group members were supported to understand the importance of being able to stop strong emotions before they get out of control, as well as identifying and practising a range of ways to calm down the body and the mind. In particular group members learned how to use the “Calming Down” strategy.
In recent weeks, all children have participated in classroom activities that focused on managing strong emotions, such as anger, and “calming down”.
All students are also being introduced to STOP, THINK, DO. This strategy is represented as a traffic light symbol. Students will talk about ways to STOP, calm down, and then identify the problem they are faced with. The activities will focus on learning the first step of the process, and practical ways to STOP when will be discussed before moving on to generating a range of solutions, and to evaluating the potential consequences of various actions.
Staying calm is the goal!
Regards
Marg Masseni
Mental Health Leader
Respect • Responsibility • Resilience • Courage