Teach your child to say stop – and to listen when others do

A clear “stop” is one of the most important words a child can learn. It gives your child a way to speak up when something doesn’t feel nice. And it teaches your child that other people have boundaries too.

The stop hand

Teach your child to hold out a hand and say “stop” in a clear voice. Practice it during play: when you tickle, wrestle or play tag. When your child says stop, you stop right away. That way, your child learns that the word works.

Respect your child’s stop

It can be hard when your child says stop to a hug from a beloved relative. But when we respect a child’s no, they learn that their body is their own. A wave or a high five can be a great alternative.

Listen when others say stop

Learning to stop when a friend says stop is just as important. Talk about it: “When Villum says stop, it means he doesn’t think it’s fun anymore.”

Put words to the body

Ask: “How does it feel in your tummy when something isn’t nice?” It helps your child notice their boundaries before things get to be too much.

Tell a grown-up

Teach your child that if a stop isn’t heard, they can always go to a grown-up. That isn’t tattling. It’s taking care of yourself.

Practice in a safe setting

Little role-plays with teddy bears or a mini book where your child says stop make the practice concrete and safe. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

From My Mini Mindset

Want to bring the words into everyday life? Here are materials with your child’s name and a figure that looks like your child:

• The mini book “… says stop”
• Feelings cards