Check readiness
If the person is overwhelmed, address regulation and safety first.
Clinical Perspectives
Correct With Dignity
Choose a response that teaches without enlarging the conflict.
Correction works best when it is clear, proportionate, and connected to the behavior. A small, timely response can preserve dignity while giving someone a way to practice a more successful action.
Four moves to try
Name the behavior
Be specific without attaching a negative identity label.
Choose a proportionate step
Avoid turning a small mistake into a prolonged confrontation.
Practice a repair
Offer a redo or another concrete way to make things right.
How it might sound
Younger child
A child grabs a toy. Stop the grabbing, then practice asking or taking turns.
Teenager
A teen speaks harshly. Keep the limit and invite a respectful restatement when ready.
Coach the caregiver
Help the caregiver choose one response that teaches the expected behavior and fits the situation.
Try it this week
Review one recent correction. What was the least intense response that could still teach the needed skill?
Reflection
Am I responding to the behavior, or making a judgment about the person?
Safety and practice: A proportionate response can still require immediate protection and clear consequences when safety demands them.
Download the one-page takeaway (PDF)