Boundaries and Assertiveness: Building a Foundation for Healthy Friendships

**I only run this camp a few times throughout the year.  You can find the FLEX (no live classes) version of this class here: 

https://outschool.com/classes/boundaries-and-assertiveness-building-a-foundation-for-healthy-friendships-flex-DUoQyr0W?usid=VbdChdTp&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link
Join me as I walk learners through some of the most important skills for children in developing healthy relationships and friendships.

This class can be listed in the following formats:
1/week for four weeks
4/week for one week
2/week for two weeks 


This is a four class course that meets live. 

Here is the breakdown: 

Class one: Assertiveness

Before discussing boundaries it is important for children to understand that their voice inside of them is important and how to know when to speak up and how to speak up in a kind and confident way.  Focuses during this lesson are:
-understanding different communications styles: passive, aggressive, assertive
-recognizing your big strong voice 
-understanding "kind" does not necessarily mean others will feel "happy" (and why that is ok) 
-practicing what to say in certain situations 
-understanding that assertiveness will allow others to respect you and understand you more
-being assertive can empower others around you

Class Two: What are my friendship/relationship rules?
To understand boundaries we first have to discuss our preferences and comforts around different relationships in our lives.  In this lesson we will discuss our "rules" when it comes to our friends, family, things, and our body.  

Learners will become aware that their preferences and "rules" are not always going to be obvious to others (and that is OK!).  

Some examples of what I will discuss as examples during the lesson are: 
-a person wanting to drink out of your water bottle
-a person wanting to borrow something
-a person treating another person poorly even when they are kind to you
-a person no listening when you tell them to stop tickling you or touching you

**please note we are NOT discussing inappropriate touching of private parts.  The conversation about our preferences with our body have more to do with personal space and touches like: hugs, sitting too close, tickling, wrestling, arm around our shoulder.  

Class three: How to communicate our rules and preferences in an assertive way.

This lesson will tie back in assertiveness and the importance of speaking up for ourselves about things that are not making us feel safe, comfortable, or respected.  We will:
-discuss what it means and sounds like to communicate our preferences and rules with others
-understand that speaking up about our needs can be uncomfortable but is important
-learn how to be clear, kind, and sometimes firm when communicating 

I will be using some character friends to help walk through different age appropriate examples to help learners understand how to communicate the things that are important for them to feel safe, comfortable, and respected in relationships.  

Class four: Setting and Holding Boundaries
If we have communicated our needs clearly with others and they are not respecting them it is time to put a boundary in place.  In this lesson learners will understand: 
-boundaries are not about what we should say rather what we will do
-people won't always like our boundaries but should respect them
-the importance of firmly holding a boundary
-boundaries often result in others respecting us more and change of behavior 
-when it's important to get a grown up involved right away
-sometimes we adjust our boundaries with changed behavior


Students will be given printables or challenges to extend each class topic as well as a notes page to complete during the lesson. 
  

**Please note that due to Outschool's strict policies in regards to avoiding interactions that are "therapeutic in nature"  it is important that students are not using the classroom posts to ask for "advice" on specific situations in their lives, rather use the videos and examples in the videos to help apply the learning to their own unique situations.  

I am incredibly passionate about this topic and so glad you are considering the class.  Please reach out with any questions.