Mrs. Seltz's Preschool News
Thunderville Childcare Center
Discipline: Treat others how you want to be treated
In our Preschool class we constantly practice the art of kindness. Instead of focusing on the negative behaviors made we focus on how to fix or avoid those behaviors. Misbehavior is not an opportunity for punishment, but rather an opportunity for teaching a new behavior and practicing it. There are a few simple guidelines that we follow in our classrooms when dealing with positive discipline.
1) Modeling - We model behavior for the kids and
we encourage the kids to model positive behavior
for each other.
2) Active Listening - We listen to each other's
needs and respect those needs as important.
3) YES! - We tell the children what we want from
them not what we don't want from them.
4) Concise rules - At the beginning of the year clear,
concise rules are made that create reasonable
expectations for your child. The children help
with rule making.
5) Choices - Every child learns to make choices
as they go along with the classroom rules.
Children are great decision makers as long as they
are given the chance to practice.
6) Attention - Paying attention to a child will more
often than not eliminate the possibility for
misbehavior. Pay attention to the positive and
do not put emphasis on the negative.
7) Time - Give time to help, time to listen, time
to guide, and time to love.
When misbehavior occurs in the classroom we follow four steps of discipline:
1) Ignoring - As stated above we don't put emphasis
on negative behavior like inapprorpriate language
or tantrums. When positive behaviors occur,
unending praise is given.
2) Redirecting - If ignoring only magnifies a child's
behavior redirection is the next step. "You may
not throw these markers but you may throw the ball
all you want when we go outside. Please come help
me until that time." "You may not knock over the
chairs, but we can build a tower and knock that
over. Come play with me."
3) Cooling off - Hurtful behavior or an angry outburst
can sometimes be helped by a cooling off period.
The child is guided to a quiet place to calm down
and regain composure before returning to the
activity. Teachers may also use this approach
for themselves.
4) Allowing consequences - Pointing out natural
consequences teaches responsibility. Throwing
blocks means having to leave the block center.
Screaming at a friend means a cool down time
away from an enticing activity.
1) Modeling - We model behavior for the kids and
we encourage the kids to model positive behavior
for each other.
2) Active Listening - We listen to each other's
needs and respect those needs as important.
3) YES! - We tell the children what we want from
them not what we don't want from them.
4) Concise rules - At the beginning of the year clear,
concise rules are made that create reasonable
expectations for your child. The children help
with rule making.
5) Choices - Every child learns to make choices
as they go along with the classroom rules.
Children are great decision makers as long as they
are given the chance to practice.
6) Attention - Paying attention to a child will more
often than not eliminate the possibility for
misbehavior. Pay attention to the positive and
do not put emphasis on the negative.
7) Time - Give time to help, time to listen, time
to guide, and time to love.
When misbehavior occurs in the classroom we follow four steps of discipline:
1) Ignoring - As stated above we don't put emphasis
on negative behavior like inapprorpriate language
or tantrums. When positive behaviors occur,
unending praise is given.
2) Redirecting - If ignoring only magnifies a child's
behavior redirection is the next step. "You may
not throw these markers but you may throw the ball
all you want when we go outside. Please come help
me until that time." "You may not knock over the
chairs, but we can build a tower and knock that
over. Come play with me."
3) Cooling off - Hurtful behavior or an angry outburst
can sometimes be helped by a cooling off period.
The child is guided to a quiet place to calm down
and regain composure before returning to the
activity. Teachers may also use this approach
for themselves.
4) Allowing consequences - Pointing out natural
consequences teaches responsibility. Throwing
blocks means having to leave the block center.
Screaming at a friend means a cool down time
away from an enticing activity.
The goal of discipline is not to control children
and make them obey but to give them the skills for making decision while
gradually gaining self-control, and being
responsible for their own behavior.
and make them obey but to give them the skills for making decision while
gradually gaining self-control, and being
responsible for their own behavior.