Which sentence is a nonjudgmental report of a child’s behavior?

Which sentence is a nonjudgmental report of a child’s behavior?

• A. Tod should be punished.
• B. Tod hit Mary with clenched fists.
• C. Tod is a troublemaker.
• D. Tod's behavior was unacceptable.

Answer: (B)

Nonjudgmental reporting means describing observable behavior without labeling the child or implying motives. The sentence Tod hit Mary with clenched fists states a concrete action and its recipient, keeping to what happened without adding opinions or character judgments. That neutrality is what makes it nonjudgmental. The other statements express judgments or proposed consequences—punishment, a label like “troublemaker,” or the idea that the behavior was unacceptable—without sticking to a factual description of the act itself. In practice, describing the event neutrally helps adults understand what occurred and plan appropriate, supportive responses.

Nonjudgmental reporting means describing observable behavior without labeling the child or implying motives. The sentence Tod hit Mary with clenched fists states a concrete action and its recipient, keeping to what happened without adding opinions or character judgments. That neutrality is what makes it nonjudgmental. The other statements express judgments or proposed consequences—punishment, a label like “troublemaker,” or the idea that the behavior was unacceptable—without sticking to a factual description of the act itself. In practice, describing the event neutrally helps adults understand what occurred and plan appropriate, supportive responses.