Speak Up and Stay S.T.R.O.N.G. is a fun, live online class where children learn practical communication skills to speak up with confidence, advocate for their needs, and navigate everyday conflicts while respecting themselves and others.

For children in grades 2–5 and their parents.

How Does It Work?

• Five weekly, 60-minute sessions held live on Zoom

• Children attend the first four sessions with a parent or caregiver; the fifth session is for parents only

• Children learn through interactive games, demonstrations, and role-plays

• Families receive a child workbook, parent guide, and home-practice activities

• Instructional portions are recorded for enrolled families to review during the course

Who Is It For?

This class is designed for children in grades 2–5 who would benefit from learning how to:

• Speak up and express their feelings and needs confidently

• Handle disagreements with siblings, friends, and classmates

• Respond to teasing, unfairness, or other challenging social situations

• Solve problems without shutting down, giving in, or becoming overly reactive

Children should be able to read at approximately a second-grade level to participate in the scripted practice activities. Parents should be willing to practice and reinforce skills between sessions.

What's the Evidence?

Speak Up and Stay S.T.R.O.N.G. draws on research-informed approaches to assertiveness training, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), social-emotional learning, and interpersonal effectiveness skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Children learn concrete communication strategies through modeling, guided practice, role-play, and feedback—methods widely used in evidence-based skills training.

Why Parents?

Learning a new skill is one thing. Using it during a real disagreement is another!

Parents participate alongside their children to learn the same communication strategies and help bridge the gap between learning and everyday life. Through practice, prompting, and positive reinforcement, parents help children build confidence and use their skills more independently.

The final parent-only session focuses on supporting continued practice and helping these skills become part of everyday interactions at home, at school, and with peers.

Interested in learning more, or registering?

Email Dr. Altemeier for upcoming dates, tuition, and enrollment information.