Cool Smart Alive
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Building Better Relationships
BBB believes the HOME is the first and most effective place to learn the lessons of life. This includes self control, the value of education, and the purpose and privilege of life.
10 De-escalating techniques to teach your children:
1. Be Empathic and Nonjudgmental
Do not judge or be dismissive of the feelings of the person in distress. Remember that the person’s feelings are real, whether or not you think those feelings are justified. Respect those feelings, keeping in mind that whatever the person is going through could be the most important event in their life at the moment.
2. Respect Personal Space
Be aware of your posture, and proximity when interacting with a person in distress. Allowing personal space shows respect, keeps you safer, and tends to decrease a person’s anxiety. If it seems safe, it may be helpful to move the person away from public spaces and into a private area to talk.
3. Use Nonthreatening Nonverbals
The more a person is in distress, the less they hear your words—and the more they react to your nonverbal communication. Be mindful of your gestures, open your hands and step back. Relax facial expressions, movements, and lower your tone of voice. Keeping your body language neutral will go a long way toward defusing a situation.
4. Keep Your Emotional Brain in Check
Remain calm and rational. While you can’t control the person’s behavior, how you respond to their behavior will have a direct effect on whether the situation escalates or defuses. Positive thoughts like “I can handle this” and “I know what to do” will help you maintain your own rationality and calm the person down.
5. Focus on Feelings
Facts are important, but how a person feels is the heart of the matter. Yet some people have trouble identifying how they feel about what’s happening to them. Watch and listen carefully for the person’s real message. Try saying something like “I understand.” “Help me understand what you need.” “Tell me if I have this right.” Supportive words like these will let the person know that you understand what’s happening.
6. Ignore Challenging Questions
Engaging with people who ask challenging questions is rarely productive. When a person asks you a question, redirect their attention to the issue at hand. Ignore the question and bring their focus back to how you can work together to solve the problem. Example Student: “Why is Mr. Smith so mean? ”
You: “At least we get out early today!”
7. Set Limits
A person who’s upset may not be able to focus on everything you say. Be clear, speak simply, and offer them a positive outcome. Example: “It's important for you to be calm in order for us to be able to talk. Can we do that?”
8. Choose Wisely What You Can Do
It’s important to be thoughtful in offering what you can and what you cannot do. Example : “I understand it’s confusing when rules change, but the school rules say we have to be respectful towards teachers.”
9. BE QUIET-Allow Silence for Reflection
We’ve all experienced awkward silences. By letting silence occur, you are giving the person a chance to reflect on what’s happening and how to proceed. Silence can be a powerful communication tool.
10. Allow Time for Decisions
When a person is upset, they may not be able to think clearly. Give them a few moments to think through what you’ve said. Allowing time brings calm.
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Explorer Programs
What Police officers do daily.
Benefits of Being an Explorer:
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Build self-confidence and self-discipline
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Develop leadership qualities
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Develop maturity
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Learn emergency response procedure
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Learn the functions of the Orange Police Department and the duties of its officers
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To learn more about how to become an Explorer please call (714) 744-7373
Citizens' Police Academy
Your turn to ask questions
Are you interested in having an extensive look inside your local police department? Do you live or work in the City of Orange? Apply for the Orange Police Department Citizen Academy! Citizen Academy is a free, interactive course in which you will have the opportunity to learn from our K-9, Narcotics, Crime Scene Investigations, Detectives and many more! You may also call the Citizen Academy line for prerecorded information at (714) 744-7354. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis..
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Turning a New Page
Often times our clients have everything they need to succeed, they just require the resources and support to make a strategic jump. We worked on this project for several months and the end result was truly spectacular. By ensuring consistent and transparent communication, our client was able to progress by leaps and bounds.