“I” Statement

Why do children never obey, or even argue? ?

Sometimes, starting sentences with “you” makes it feel like all the criticism is directed at them, which may lead to feelings of being judged or criticized. However, good communication is always the key to building a good parent-child relationship ! Today, #StayOkayHK will share how to use "I" statement  to help parents effectively communicate with their children.

By using "I" statement, it emphasizes expressing our feelings and thoughts rather than blaming others. It focuses on the child’s behaviors and the consequences it causes, and effectively conveys your feelings and needs in a non-judgmental and respectful manner.

Here are a few steps to use "I" statement :

 Identify your feelings and clearly state the specific event that triggered these feelings.
 Start your sentence with "I".
 Should include the following elements in your message:

 State the observed behavior: "When I saw/heard..."
 State your feelings: "I feel..."
 State the consequence to you: "Because..."
 Express expectations or provide solutions: "I hope..."

For example:
 “The living room is full of toys, you are really messy...”
 “When I saw that the living room was full of toys, I felt very stressed and disgusted because I often stepped on the toys, which hurt my feet. I hope you can tidy up your toys.”

#StayOkayHK hopes that parents can use the "I" statement to better establish clear and positive communication with your children!