Positive Guidance

Positive Guidance and Discipline In Classrooms

There is a difference in guidance and discipline. Discipline involves teaching and learning. It also comes from the root word “disciple” which means a pupil, a follower, or a learner. Guidance is an attempt to change behavior by leading, directing, teaching, and advising. But the two have a connection. The main goal for guidance is self-discipline. Once a child achieves self- discipline, it will increase his or her ability to learn new social skills. They are also given more opportunities to practice those skills on their own rather than having an adult solve every problem or conflict that they have. Children and adults views on discipline are based on Past experiences, cultural values, lack of knowledge and current social values. Before we can guide children’s behavior, we must understand the child’s behavior. In my early childhood class we learned that there are two different types of guidance; direct guidance and indirect guidance. Direct guidance is verbal and physical techniques that are used to influence a child’s behavior. Some examples of direct guidance are redirection, distraction, positive reinforcement, encouraging, and limits. Direct guidance strategies will differ between age groups and even for individual children. Indirect Guidance is planning that influences the child’s behavior. Example of indirect guidance strategies are planning, observation, room arrangement, modeling, and age appropriate equipment and materials. Neither direct nor indirect guidance includes punishment. Most negative punishment is unnecessary. It causes pain most of the time and it puts fear in the child. The child will probably grow up being scared of you and that will damage the relationship forever and it would also block positive discipline. It makes the child resent the person who punished them. Punishment also tears away a child’s self-esteem and it offers no possible solutions or explanation to the problem. It makes