Guiding Behavior in Children in FIBC Nursery

The following are the guidelines FIBC Nursery adopts in guiding the behavior of children in FIBC Nursery. It is by Janice Hayhood.

Guiding Behavior in Children

• Develop meaningful relationships. Show your respect for them.

• Expect them to behave. Expect the best from them and let them know it. Be positive.

• Establish boundaries - maintain boundaries. Make rules together. Ask: "What do we need to do in order to have a good time together?" Make "do" instead of "don't" rules. Make them general, instead of specific. Example: We will be respectful of others.

• Identify needs of children and respond accordingly. All behavior and misbehavior has a cause. Determine the need which is not being met and seek a way to meet it in a positive way.

• Provide a variety of activities -  to meet various meeds as well as interests. Not every child likes every kind of activity. Provide a variety of "seeing", "hearing" and "doing" activities.

• Keep groups small - and pupil/teacher ratio workable.

• Give much encouragement and honest descriptive praise. Describe to them what they are doing that is good or right - not just "good job" or "that's good".

• Be fully prepared when the first child arrives.

• Be flexible. Be flexible enough to change your plans if the children do not respond positively to what you are doing.

• Do not expect the impossible - they are children.

Guiding Misbehavior

• Determine if you need to change something you are doing wrong. Is this misbehavior your fault? Do not blame them for something that is your fault.

• Stay calm and in control.

• Deal with problems as soon as possible.

• Deal with the child or children who are misbehaving, not the entire group.

• Identify the problem respectfully and with authority. Be firm, but kind.

• Don't make threats that you cannot or will not carry out.

• Take the action stated when necessary. If you say you are going to do something as a result of misbehavior, follow through.

Disciplinary Strategies

1. Consequences

Make consequences of misbehavior related and fair. "If you cannot use the markers correctly, you will not be able to use the markers." If they cannot sit by friends and behave, they will be separated from friends.

2. Remedy, Amends or Contribution

They must be guided to "make right" what they have done. Example: Pay for something they have destroyed, "do service" for someone from whom they have stolen, etc.

3. Problem - Think!

Teach them to think through their problems. Help them to work out their own problems - don't always solve the conflicts for them - guide them to come up with their own solutions.

4. Physical Discipline (not hitting)

Move children who cannot get along or who get in trouble together; sit a child who has problems with self-control near you.

5. Time Out

Do not use for punishment, but use as a place for a child to get control of him/herself so that the problem can be "worked out".