“I can’t believe you still watch that baby show.”
“You really listen to her music? She stinks!”
“What is that weird stuff your mom put in your lunchbox?”
These kind of put-down statements happen between kids all the time, diminishing what another child enjoys either by accident or on purpose. Either way, these types of statements are hurtful. By teaching kids a simple change of phrase we can help them learn to respectfully disagree. In order to spare someone else’s feelings about something a child doesn’t personally enjoy or agree with, we teach the use of in my opinion before he or she says what he or she thinks. Kids can also be coached to say “it’s not my favorite” as another way to soften their opinion.
“In my opinion, that show is too silly for me. Do you watch ___________?”
“In my opinion, her lyrics don’t make sense, but do you listen to __________?”
“In my opinion, PB&J beats sushi in my lunch.”
