Read this blog to learn the 32 most effective de-escalation techniques for students. We have shared the experience of professionals too, and parents can also use these techniques.

1. 31 Most Effective De-escalation Techniques for
Students
Some incidents happen in life that turn an individual, whether a kid or an
adult, into an aggressive person who yells, throws items, passes negative
comments, gives threats, swears, fights, and becomes violent to express
their emotions or prove their point. Some even have leg shaking, fist -
clenching, crying hard, fidgeting, and other anxiety -ridden movements.
Nowadays, education sectors are facing a s harp rise in aggressive student
behavior, and the reason behind it can be anything. Some teachers have
left their jobs because they weren’t aware of such human behavior, and
also, some were not trained to use de-escalation techniques to calm the
situation.
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2. It is time to train the teachers on how to use deescalate techniqu es or
strategies when they encounter any aggressive student behavior. The role
of the teacher doesn’t end at just calming the situation, but it’s their
responsibility to understand their root cause and help them get rid of
these emotions and live a normal life.
In this blog post, we have mentioned the most effective de -escalation
strategies or techniques for children that should be used to maintain the
discipline of the learning environment and control the student’s
aggressive behavior.
1. Give some time to student
Ask the student to breathe slowly for a moment and let the student
regain their calm. Give them time to get back to their normal senses.
Don’t put any type of pressure on the disturbed child’s mind.
2. Question about student’s feelings
Don’t rush or react back. Ask kindly like; how they are feeling; what’s
making him act so, what’s going in their mind. Be polite with your tone
and wait for answers patiently. Being an elder, it’s your responsibility to
understand what is bothering them.

3. 3. Learn student’s history
If a student has anxiety-ridden movements, try to know what’s going on in
their body. Read the student’s history, discuss it with their parents. If
they take any medications or do any exercise to rest up their muscles,
help them in the healing process.
4. Give them positive feedback
Make the students feel happy, remind them that they deserve to be happy
and excited. Let the student close their eyes while you give them pos itive
feedback for settling down.
5. Change the student’s thoughts
While showing negative emotions, redirect their thoughts. Start speaking
of something that makes them happy. It could be anything like how they

4. feel when they eat their favourite ice cream flavour, how happy their
grandparent’s home makes them, or anything related to their happiness.
6. Don’t let them threaten others
If a student threatens more often, calm them down first and then talk to
them about how bad the consequences of threatening others would be.
Discuss with them; teach them how to express their anger without risking
others or making anyone feel unsafe.
7. Have a walk with the student
Let the student go out of the class and breathe in fresh air or have a walk
around. Meanwhile, talk to them. Ask them to share their happy
experiences with you. Or give them some alone time to collect their
thoughts on their own or pull themselves together. It’s better to set them
free for a while.
8. Keep your tone polite
Do not yell or shout back to the student who yells. Keep your responsive
tone soft and polite. Don’t use harsh words or rude phrases to stop them;
instead, reassure them that it’s okay to act a certain way. Be kind to
them.
9. Don’t hit back
If a student hits or throws something when they lose their temper, avoid
hitting back. Do not abuse the student verbally or physically. It can
worsen the situation. Remind them of the rules of school politely like
violence, hitting or fighting is not allowed.
10. Look for help

5. If you alone fail to deescalate such behaviour, stop trying hard. Ask for
help, and it’s better to take any risk.
11. Use your humour
Make a joke, an appropriate joke to calm down the whole class
atmosphere. Avoid saying any sarcastic stuff that feels like a personal
attack on anyone. Choose your jokes wisely.
12. Keep a safe distance
Ask the fellow students around to walk away or keep a distance so nobody
gets harmed. Tell the kids it’s normal human behaviour that can improve
or change. If you feel unsafe by their position, ask them to sit down or
move somewhere else so you both can ha ve a talk and figure out the
solution.
13. Report about student’s case
Do not take such behaviours or incidents lightly; report the case to school
authorities and administrations. Inform their parents immediately.
Schools should ask parents before admiss ion if their kids have such
aggressive behaviour symptoms or anything, so the school staff stays
alert.
14. Make them feel heard
Ensure the students that you listen to them or have all your attention
don’t make them feel unwanted. Rare are the cases when students talk
about their emotional crisis or trauma if anyone does so. Be an active and
good listener.
15. Show your empathy

6. Show more of your empathy, try to restate the problem, and ask for
permission if you want to move away or forward.
Based on my 40 years of experience, research, and field-
testing, there is only one effective way to deescalate an
angry, upset student. A teacher must:
Ignore the angry words.
Read the student’s emotions and feelings.
Reflect those emotions and feelings to the student with a
“you” statement.
Nothing else will work. This idea is based on brain scanning
studies that show how the human brain responds to affect
labelling, an implicit form of emotional regulation.
Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA

7. 16. Encourage or motivate the students
Use motivational phrases and encourage them for the good they can
achieve or are capable of. Tell them this happens to you too, and you can
help them fight these emotions or behaviours. Keep your remarks positive
about these students so this may not damage their self -esteem.
17. Gain the student’s trust
Suppose the student shares that they want to get rid of their attitude or
emotions. Show your willingness to find the solution for them. Earn their
trust.
18. Use right phrases
Try to understand the student’s perspective or view things and say ‘I
understand’ or ‘I see your point’ in between the conversation. Make use of

8. humble phrases like ‘let’s talk about this, ‘you g ot my back, ‘I am always
here to help you,’ and others.
19. Avoid cutting them off
When a person with aggressive behaviour starts talking, even If you don’t
like some points they are sharing, do not interrupt or overreact.
20. Clear their expectations
If student behaviour is because of their higher expectations from no
matter whom, clarify them. Discuss how bad it could be for their
relations.
21. Be apologetic
Apologize if they find any act or word offensive. Even if you are not wrong
or just they have taken it wrong, still apologize and teach them politely
what was your concern or meaning behind it.
22. Speak about the things they love
Distract them with the objects they love, and it could be anything, their
favourite toy, book, or a stationary item. Ask why it means so much to
them.
23. Show your patience
No matter what you do to keep the situation calm and safe, avoid your
need to get the last word. Give such students time to heal and wait
patiently for the changed behaviour.
24. Set your limits

9. Set your limits with them; tell them you will only play with them if they do
not threaten anybody next time. Or you can ask them to stop swearing,
and then you will listen to their side of the story.
25. Offer something to eat or drink
Take them out to the canteen or café and get them something to eat or
drink.
26. Book the student’s appointment
Guide such student’s parents to take them to the school psychologist or
any other outside. Psychologists know how to detect the roo t of a child’s
aggressive behaviour or emotional trauma. They also help children and
adults work through traumas, behavioural changes, and other
abnormalities.
27. Ignore the informal language
Ignore the wrong words or abusive activities and forgive. This de -
escalation technique is the best you can use on th em.
28. Use punishment strategies to correct them
Announce a punishment to fellow students if they try to make them feel
bad or bully them for such behaviour. The punishment should be minor,
harmless, with a positive lesson.
29. Let the student make a choice
Teach them what’s wrong or right with specific examples and ask them to
make a choice.

10. Once I learned this trick, I was able to help calm upset
kindergarten students in minutes, sometimes seconds.
Here’s the biggest teacher hack: ask them to blow bubbles. I
began storing small containers of bubble solution in my
desk drawer, and when students would get upset, I would
ask them if they would like to blow bubbles.
Instead of begging them to take deep breaths, blowing
bubbles requires them to take big breaths, which has a
physiologically calming effect. There isn’t a 5-year old I’ve
ever met that doesn’t want to blow bubbles, especially when
it’s not something every other child gets to do.
As an experienced kindergarten teacher, I had tried
everything from setting up a calm corner to having teddy
bears to hold to giving kids hugs and words of affirmation.
Most of the time, those solutions didn’t work, or if they did,
they took lots of time! Enter-bubble blowing, the teaching
hack that has helped me in the classroom and as a parent.
Ashley KZ Showell creator of Forwardwithfun.com
30. Become a trustworthy friend
Befriend such students, assure them they always have your side and do
not leave them alone in this situation. They can even harm themselves.
31. Ask open-ended questions
Once they are back to normal, ask them open -ended questions. Start your
conversation as ‘ I know you are not like this, you were just angry and I
really want to understand why or what you were feeling.’

11. Conclusion
Know that such behaviors are not a fatal disease or anything; it is just an
aggressive, angry, or upset student with any horrible past incident or
history. Teachers and parents can use these mentioned de -escalation
techniques for students to bring them back to normal. If you can’t do
anything in this chaotic situation, then just be an active and polite
listener; this is the simplest de-escalation strategy so far.
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