Words Can’t Be Taken Back: Toothpaste Squeeze Activity

Preventing teasing, name-calling, and put-downs requires teaching children how to be kind and respectful to one another while still having fun. Here are nine proactive steps to promote respectful language in the classroom and a fun activity to help young elementary students learn that hurtful words can’t be taken back.

Fewer Mean Words, More Kind Words

Proactive Steps to Promote Respectful Language

1. Model what respect looks and sounds like.
2. Include respectful language in class rules.
3. Revisit the rules as necessary.
4. Teach children what to do if they notice teasing.
5. Teach the difference between school speech and out-of-school speech.
6. Reinforce kindness and respect when you see them.
7. Teach what respectful language looks and sounds like.
8. Continue to build community in your classroom and school.
9. Teach students about the impact of teasing others.

Words Can’t Be Taken Back Lesson Activity

Toothpaste Squeeze Activity for Elementary

Young children often think they can take back hurtful words by saying a quick “I’m sorry.” They need to learn that once words leave their mouths, they can’t be taken back. To teach them this lesson, try the Toothpaste Squeeze activity.

1. Show students a tube of toothpaste. Explain that when they say a hurtful word, it’s like squeezing out toothpaste.
2. Go around the circle and let each student squirt a little toothpaste into a plastic bowl.
3. Go back around and challenge students to put the toothpaste back. They’ll try but find that it’s impossible.
4. Tell students that words work the same way: once out, we can’t put them back.

This activity can be found in Teasing, Tattling, Defiance and More: Positive Approaches to 10 Common Classroom Behaviors. Get your copy today and learn to make your classroom a positive learning environment where respectful language is the norm.