As John Andrew Holmes wisely said,
"Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting
centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that thing."

BE SURE TO SCROLL THROUGH AND LOOK THROUGH OLDER POSTS TO SEE
PICTURES OF YOUR CHILDREN AND ALL THEY'RE LEARNING AT
HANDS ON 4 KIDS!!



Positive Guidance and Discipline


At preschool or at home we want THE BEST for our children. When we identify, recognize and learn how to deal with our feelings appropriately we develop more compatible learning environments for our children. Feelings are not "good" or "bad" they just "are"....it's what we choose to DO with those feelings that become "good" or "bad".

Our age appropriate guidance practices for our children is based on the following philosophy statements:
• Children are in the process of learning acceptable behavior.

• An effective guidance approach is preventative because it respects feelings while addressing behavior.

• Adults seek to understand reasons for children's behavior.

• A supportive relationship between an adult and a child is the most critical component of effective guidance.

• Adults use forms of guidance and group management that help children learn self-control and responsiveness to the needs of others.

• Adults model appropriate expressions of their feelings.

• Adults make needed adjustments to a child's environment or schedule to meet his or her needs.

Taken from "Children with
Challenging Behavior," Mary Louise Hemmeter

When ever I can I love to observe other Preschool classes. Recently I observed an environment that was perfectly set up with fantastic materials, supplies and toys. The teacher however facilitated the environment to meet HER needs more so than the needs or respecting feelings of the children. The children "complied" with her techniques... (even I felt uncomfortable with the wrath of her scowled face, raised eye brow or scolding lectures and I hadn't done anything wrong!) However, compliance or immediate obedience is not our #1 goal in discipline. As the adults, it is our job to facilitate needed adjustments to a child's environment or schedule to meet the CHILD'S needs. This often starts with recognizing and understanding and respecting each others feelings. It's not always an easy task, but one that we continue to strive for by following the above points.
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