Behavior Guidance and Discipline
Positive Behavior Guidance
Behavior guidance is teaching children to identify and use appropriate strategies to deal with their behavior and feelings. It is a process by which children are able to learn appropriate problem solving skills. Behavior guidance helps children develop empathy, control and self-esteem. Guiding children’s behavior is something practiced throughout the day even when they are not acting out. It is establishing daily routines, setting clear boundaries and modeling respect and kindness. By being attentive and remaining calm when a situation arises, allows for the child to learn to respond differently. A child can become more in control of their emotions and problem solve. Remember that an effective guidance approach is preventive because it respects feelings while it also addresses behavior.
Consider the child’s developmental stage, what are their needs? A child may be exploring a behavior that is age appropriate for their social emotional development. Social emotional development includes the child's experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others (Cohen and others 2005). Children learn positive guidance when it is modeled by those around them. It takes time for children to understand what you are asking them to do; be patient.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers:
In the event that you seek more guidance in helping provide positive guidance for your children, it is important to know there are numerous resources that are available to families. Some children may experience challenging behavior due to a medical condition or learning disability. The following services are available to help increase a more positive outcome for children who experience challenging behaviors.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports of Arizona
Positive Behavior Support - Raising Special Kids Arizona
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Arizona
Behavior guidance is teaching children to identify and use appropriate strategies to deal with their behavior and feelings. It is a process by which children are able to learn appropriate problem solving skills. Behavior guidance helps children develop empathy, control and self-esteem. Guiding children’s behavior is something practiced throughout the day even when they are not acting out. It is establishing daily routines, setting clear boundaries and modeling respect and kindness. By being attentive and remaining calm when a situation arises, allows for the child to learn to respond differently. A child can become more in control of their emotions and problem solve. Remember that an effective guidance approach is preventive because it respects feelings while it also addresses behavior.
Consider the child’s developmental stage, what are their needs? A child may be exploring a behavior that is age appropriate for their social emotional development. Social emotional development includes the child's experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others (Cohen and others 2005). Children learn positive guidance when it is modeled by those around them. It takes time for children to understand what you are asking them to do; be patient.
Tips for Parents and Caregivers:
- Help offer a solution
- Be positive
- Use active listening skills when working with children
- Model appropriate behavior to teach children what it should look like
- Use natural consequences, (i.e. “because you threw your toy on the ground, it broke and cannot be played with anymore.”)
- Help children to manage strong emotions
- Redirect children’s behavior by giving them another option or distraction
- Help children problem solve
- Praise and encourage children to reinforce appropriate behavior
- Be clear about rules and expectations
- Provide consistent follow through
In the event that you seek more guidance in helping provide positive guidance for your children, it is important to know there are numerous resources that are available to families. Some children may experience challenging behavior due to a medical condition or learning disability. The following services are available to help increase a more positive outcome for children who experience challenging behaviors.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports of Arizona
Positive Behavior Support - Raising Special Kids Arizona
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Arizona
