Kelso Choices in PS-Grade 2

Dear Parents,

This year, students from Prep Senior- Grade 2 are being taught Kelso’s Choices to peacefully
resolve small conflicts among themselves.  Students are taught nine different strategies-Kelso’s
Choices-to solve problems. Students are taught that if they can’t solve a small problem after
trying two strategies, they should find an adult to help them.  Students are also taught how to
differentiate between “small” problems (annoying or frustrating) and “big” problems
(scary and dangerous) and these problems should be reported to an adult right away.

Practicing Kelso’s Choices helps students develop confidence in their ability to solve
problems peacefully and independently and builds a safer more positive school environment.  

Some ways that you can reinforce Kelso’s Choice at home are:

1. Ask your child which of Kelso’s choices they used today to solve a problem.
2. Help your child identify “BIG” vs. “small” problems and use appropriate responses.
3. Build your child’s feeling vocabulary.  Really listen to your child and try to
4. accurately reflect back the feelings you think they are trying to convey.  
5. Get other family members involved.  Feel free to use this to help siblings
6. resolve small problems without the help of mom or dad.
7. Print and post the Kelso Wheel in the home and ask children to use it.  
8. Use “I messages” to let your child know who their behavior is affecting you.  
9. Rather than focusing on the negative behavior and assigning blame, an “I message”
10. helps the other person to see the impact of their behavior on others, making them
11. more likely to want to respond positively.