Kids aren鈥檛 born knowing how to play nicely with other kids. When they feel left out, are bullied, or when a friend or sibling tattles on them or takes something from them, they might yell, hit, kick, or run in fear.

To help your child learn to play well with others, you can help teach social skills with some easy-to-remember phrases that make playing more fun and fair:

鈥淭ell not yell.鈥�
鈥淏e mad, but not mean.鈥�
鈥淏e helpful, not hateful.鈥�

Teach your child, too, to use 鈥減laying fair鈥� words instead of 鈥渂lame and shame鈥� words. Learning to use these words can help children control difficult emotions like being mad, sad, or frustrated.

Blame and shame words

Playing fair words
Liar! I heard you say something different before.
You cheated! I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 how this game is played. The rule is…
You’re a tattle tale! I wish you would tell me first when you don鈥檛 like something I did.
Move over! I don鈥檛 have enough room. Could you move?
You鈥檙e not the boss of me! I don鈥檛 like it when you give me orders.
You鈥檙e not my friend anymore! I don鈥檛 like what you said about me to Alicia. I鈥檓 mad at you.
You鈥檙e so mean! Stop teasing me. I don鈥檛 like it.