1. Guiding Children’s Behavior
Chapter 3 Section 2
Human Growth & Development

2. Understanding Guidance
Some think of guiding as disciplining children when they do something wrong
Punishment is part of guidance, put only a small part
Guidance: using firmness and understanding to help children learn to control their own behavior
Self discipline is the result of effective guidance
Self discipline: ability to control one’s behavior
Effective guidance is linked to a child’s age and emotional & social development
Helps children in their moral development
Conscience: inner sense of what is right
Use to act morally when facing new situations

3. Consistency Consistency is the key to guiding children’s behavior
Matter of clearly making rules and applying them in the same way in all situations
Helps children know what is expected of them
Loss of trust and confidence occur when a caregiver constantly changes rules or fails to enforce them
Issue when more than one person cares for the child

4. Guidance Three ways adults can guide children to behave appropriately
Encourage appropriate behavior
Setting and enforcing limits
Dealing with inappropriate behavior in effective ways

5. Setting a Good Example Children are great imitators
Learn best by being shown what to do rather than by just being told
The desire to imitate applies to all examples-not just good ones
Children imitate good & bad behavior

6. Telling What is Expected
Children need to be told what is expected of them in ways they can understand
Sometimes a demonstration is enough (especially with small children)
About 3 years old children begin to understand reasoning
Don’t do that, it hurts…

7. Praising Appropriate Behavior
Positive reinforcement: response that encourages a particular behavior
Giving a child attention when his/her actions are appropriate
When a child learns that an action wins attention and approval, they are likely to repeat that action

8. Guidelines to Help Encourage Appropriate Behavior
Be specific
Notice the behavior as soon as possible
Recognize small steps
Help the child take pride in his or her actions
Tailor the encouragement to the needs of the child

9. Offering Choices
Children are allowed to make decisions as they become more mature
Choices offered have to reflect acceptable behavior
Choices need to be age appropriate for the child

10. Setting Limits
Another way to guide children toward appropriate, safe behavior
Physical restraints
Rule of behavior

11. What Should Limits Be?
Limits should keep children from hurting themselves, other people, or property.
Children will follow limits if they are few and reasonable
Questions to keep in mind when setting limits:
Does the limit allow the child to learn, explore, and grow?
Is the limit fair and appropriate for the child’s age?
Does the limit benefit the child, or is it merely for the adult’s convenience.

12. Making Limits Clear State limits simply and briefly
Four steps to setting limits:
Show understanding of the child’s desires
Set the limit and explain it
Acknowelege the child’s feelings
Give alternatives

13. Dealing with Inappropriate Behavior
All children misbehave from time to time
Adults must deal the inappropriate behavior appropriately and effectively
Questions to ask when responding to a child’s misbehavior:
Is the expected behavior appropriate given the child’s development?
Does the child understand that the behavior is wrong?
Was the behavior done knowingly and deliberately, or was it beyond the child’s control?

14. Unintentional Misbehavior
Sometimes misbehavior is unintentional
Dropping a glass of milk that is too heavy or breaking something out of reach
Misbehavior is unintentional if the child had no way of knowing it was wrong
Picking flowers

15. Using Punishment Effectively
When children deliberately do something that they know is wrong, some form of punishment may be necessary
Punishment is negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement: response aimed at discouraging a child from repeating a behavior
Punishment with good judgment can be effective
First time a child breaks a rule, give a warning, not a consequence
Gives them the chance to regain self control

16. Using Punishment Effectively
After a warning has been given and the rule is broken again, a punishment is in order
Useful techniques for dealing with inappropriate behavior
Natural consequences
Loss of privileges
Giving time-out
Time out: short period of time in which a child sits away from other people and the center of activity. The purpose is to give the child a chance to calm down and regain self-control
One minute of time out for each year of a child’s age is a good length of time

17. Poor Disciplinary Measures
Less effective disciplinary methods
Bribing
Making children promise to behave
Shouting or yelling
Shaming or belittling
Threatening to withhold love

18. Handling Conflict
Children may feel angry when they can’t get their way
Caregivers must be prepared to deal with this anger
Avoid making the child feel guilty about his or her anger (it’s normal)
Teach children acceptable ways of handling behavior
Using words
Speaking calmly
Counting to ten