4- Practice positive guidance strategies

Effective guidance requires three elements, parenting capacity, family and

environmental factors and a childs developmental needs. When we assess our
personal actions and words that correlate with positive guidance and behavioral
strategies, children will learn and grow. We need to be open to reinventing our
curriculum and activity plans to fit the developmental needs of the children in our
rooms. Positive guidance strategies support problem solving approaches. We need
to talk with the child and find a good plan for solving the mistaken behavior. We also
need to look at the environment and see if there is anything we need to change.
When practicing positive guidance we can use a guidance ladder to fit the
challenging behavior. I learned from creating a power point on guidance strategies
the guidance ladder. The guidance ladder is;
1) Ignore the behavior
Negative reinforcements eventually causes a child to stop the undesirable
behavior.
2) Active listening
I statements create conversation with honest, nonjudgmental statements.
Active listening states an observation of behavior and its results. These
statements help a child solve the problem on their own.
3) Reinforcements
Behavior is learned through experiences and can be changed through
reinforcements.
4) Redirection/distractions
When we observe, we make accurate assessments of what a child really
wants and consider alternatives to stop mistaken behavior.
5) Give choices
Help children practice self-reliance, self-direction, and self-discipline by
offering choices.
6) Set limits
Setting limits with children helps prevent injuries and destruction. When
children have consistent limits, they know what is expected.
7) Use active problem solving
When we help a child confront their differences and overcome the behavior
together, they learn self-control.
8) Approach problem solving
Approach problems by making a statement and asking questions. The adult
and child can then generate alternatives and agree on solutions. This helps a
child learn self-control and self-reliance. Always remember to follow through.
Children will learn that they are important and feel secure in their
environments when you give them the attention they need.
9) Natural and logical consequences
When children learn there are consequences for their actions, they will learn
to take responsibility for themselves. Consequences helps children know what
to expect. Our job is to make sure the consequences are not harmful or will
injure anyone.

10)
Time outs
When mistaken behavior occurs taking the child away from the situation to
cool off and settle down may stop the behavior. It is our job to observe and
intervene when a child needs us.
11)
Physical intervention
If the mistaken behavior will cause injuries we need to immediately intervene
and remove the child. When the situation is under control we can talk to the
child, find solutions and help them understand.
When we promote a caring classroom we use developmentally and culturally
appropriate guidance, we are the behavior models, help prevent misbehavior,
actively observe and use indirect guidance. These strategies align with the pyramid
model for guiding children. Young children are constantly learning from what we do
or say. I learned from handout 4.1 Addressing challenging behavior in infants and
toddlers positive relationships with caregivers is crucial to the development of
positive self-images and the beliefs about the world around them. We need to teach
children cooperation, sharing, taking turns, engaging with and getting along with
others. This is always accomplished by communicating with a child at their
developmental level.