Guiding Children

All behavior is communication. This is an important starting point for helping to guide the social and emotional development of young children. When we think of helping children to learn appropriate social behaviors, we often call this Discipline. This word is sometimes used as a substitute for punishment and that is not how we view this important social learning for children. Rather, as adults we want to understand what needs children are expressing through their behaviors and then help them understand their needs and find effective ways to express those needs.

We use a specific approach to guiding children’s behavior that is called Conscious Discipline.

“Conscious Discipline ® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. It is based on current brain research, child development information, and developmentally appropriate practices. Conscious Discipline® has been specifically designed to make changes in the lives of adults first. The adults, in turn, change the lives of children.

It utilizes everyday events rather than an external curriculum, and addresses the adult’s emotional intelligence as well as the child’s. Conscious Discipline empowers adults to consciously respond to daily conflict, transforming it into an opportunity to teach critical life skills to children. With Conscious Discipline, teachers, children and the entire school culture can become a safe haven of cooperation, constructive problem solving and academic success.

Conscious Discipline is a brain state model that addresses internal state first, using a neurodevelopmental brain model, so adults and children may learn to self-regulate effectively.

There are seven skills that are taught as a part of Conscious Discipline; Composure, Encouragement, Assertiveness, Choices, Empathy, Positive Intent and Consequences.
These skills enable the adults to turn problems into opportunities for life lessons.

There are classroom structures and loving rituals that help to create the School Family. These create a positive school climate by eliminating rewards and punishments in favor of the safety, connection and problem-solving of a School Family.”

For more information, you can go to their website, consciousdiscipline.com.