One goal parents and educators should have is to help children become assertive and emotionally intelligent individuals. In furthering this goal, it helps to have an understanding of the three basic communication styles: (1) passive; (2) aggressive; and (3) assertive. Because communication is most effective when a message is delivered assertively, teaching students to communicate in an assertive manner should be an instructional goal. Being assertive can help students communicate their feelings, exercise their rights, and respond to violations of their rights while respecting the rights of others. Students can learn to select a strategy and, when possible, plan a course of action in advance. When teaching assertive communication strategies, it's important to actively engage students by having them brainstorm and identify the types of situations they encounter to which assertiveness strategies can be applied. This article discusses five assertive techniques that can be directly taught to students at home or in the classroom. The scenarios presented, provided as a model for role playing, can be modified as needed to make teaching situations relevant for student levels and settings. Incidentally, these strategies are excellent for personal safety and protective behaviors. (Contains 1 figure.)