Arguments
How to read the stories

Arguments

We all know how it feels to get cross or lose our temper. Sometimes, when we lose our temper, we do things we wouldn’t normally do. And occasionally, when we get angry, we do things that make the situation worse.

Sometimes, to avoid situations like this, people need to learn new ways of doing things.

No matter how hard we try to avoid difficult situations, there will be times in our lives when things happen that make us angry or upset or frightened. We might then respond in a way that makes the situation worse – for ourselves and the people around us. We may need to learn how to cope with difficult situations. For example, you may want to learn to deal with disappointments or having to wait for something, or you may want to learn how to tell someone that you want to be left alone, without losing your temper.

There are different ways of sorting out problems and learning new skills. In this story people talk very seriously about what has happened, but often humour can help you and your supporters to sort out a problem well, too. Sometimes reading or looking at pictures can help; sometimes we need to practise our coping and communication skills by ‘role-playing’ difficult situations.

Getting the right support

You can make a lot of things better by getting together with your family carers and supporters and working out the best way they can support you. However, you may also need help from a specialist, someone with the right training and experience who can help to develop a set of behaviour support strategies.

How to read the stories

There is no right or wrong way to read the stories.

Some people are not used to reading stories. Start at the beginning and read the story in each picture. Encourage the reader to move through the pages at their own pace.
Encourage the person to tell the story in their own words. You will discover what they think is happening, what they already know, and how they feel. If you are using the pictures to help explain a procedure to someone, you may need to describe or clarify the actions being shown in each picture to help them understand. Try not to challenge the reader(s) or suggest their ideas are wrong.
Some pictures may be more difficult to understand. It can help to prompt the people you are supporting, for example:
• Who do you think that is?
• What is happening?
• How is he or she feeling?
• Do you feel like that? Has it happened to you/ your friend/ your family?
Allow people enough time to follow the pictures at their own pace. Allow time for discussion of each picture.
Some people may benefit from reading the larger story from which the extract has been taken. This will allow them to explore their feelings and experiences in more depth. To buy the complete book, follow the link to the bookshop that appears at the end of the story.