Guiding Young Children: 21 Strategies I learned

I learned that guidance is positive discipline. Guidance helps teach children and children learn by what we adults say and how we act. I also learned to have age-appropriate limits. A part of teaching is also giving the children a reason to the limits you set. I learned that when the limits are consistent, then the children knows what is expected and over time they will not have to told of the expectations. The six qualities are: safety, trust, self-regulation, competence, reflection, and respect. Children need to know that the teacher or adults are watching out for them and to ensure their safety. When there are no surprises they know what to expect and they can learn to trust limits and consequences. When limits are consistent children learn to self-regulate. As the children become more independent they feel a sense of competence. Children need to reflect about their responsibilities because guidance help children make wise choices but making those wise choses doesnt mean they can do whatever they want. Instead of children resenting the person setting the limits the children learn to respect the person guiding them. I learned some of them punishment that are opposite of guidance are: physically hurting the child, showing the child how negative behavior feels, humiliating the child, never relenting and withdrawing affection from the child. Punishment can stifles relationship building, it does not teach self-control, punishment diminishes self-esteem and fosters disrespect, it modes aggression and hinders trust. In this article I learned about the 21 different strategies. 1. Knowing the child: Watching, listening, and learning about a childs temperament, interests and learning styles . 2. be honest: dont tweak the truth. 3. Be kind and Save Face: the goal is to make sure children know they are being guided not reprimanded. 4. Making verbal and nonverbal messages agree: Its important to be aware that your tone and body language fit your words. 5. Show Respect: Showing the children respect will help them see that they are being guided and not punished. 6. Redirect: it can be beneficial to avoid struggle with the child by directing his attention elsewhere. 7. Use Humor: most children respond to adults joy. 8. Allow natural consequences: a natural consequence is when an action happens and the natural outcome is what guides the child. 9. Logical consequences: Sometimes it is not appropriate to let natural consequences serve as the guide. 10. I-messages: the three parts of an i-message are: 1) define the behavior in a non-blaming manner. 2) State the tangible effect of the behavior and 3) clarify how the behavior makes you fell. 11. Work with the children: Let the older preschoolers and school-age children be an active participants in rule settings. 12. Establish one -way communication: Oneway communication occurs when someone informs another person of something. 13. Be an active listener: Active listening supports the congruency of verbal and nonverbal messages and builds two-way communication. 14. Turn chores into games: Activities, such as clean-up can invite misbehavior, instead use your imagination. 15. Evaluate Your Environment: look at your room set up. 16. Give choices: Giving choices will help solve conflicts. 17. Make clear statements: While it is good to offer choices, when feasible, it is also important not to imply there is a choice when one really does not exist. 18. Minimize Adult- imposed transitions: A transition is the time between changing activities.

Children look at adults for guidance but they look at you for positive guidance not negative. This article helped give ways to have positive guidance.