What to Do When Someone Calls You a Name
Materials: n/a
Purposes:
Independence
Preparation for Culturally Appropriate Social Behavior
Age: 3 - 6
Preparation: The children have witnessed or experienced name-calling.
Presentation:
Invite a small group of children and the other adult in the room to sit with you.
Explain you are going to show them what to do if someone calls them a name and that the other classroom adult will help you.
Stand with the other adult and they will call you a name (Example: You’re a baby!)
You respond, “My name is (_____) and that is what you can call me.” Turn and walk away.
Return and reverse roles.
Invite the children to have a turn playing both roles.
Summarize the lesson and dismiss to work.
Points of Interest:
Responding calmly.
Walking away.
Following Exercises: None
Pedagogical Notes:
You need to change the words for the interactions that are most appropriate for your setting.
Be sure to invite a child who tends to name-call and a child who has experienced being called a name.
Plan with the other adult in the room how to handle these situations as they arise while the children are learning the skills to handle it themselves.