Why Positive Discipline?

"When used consistently, positive discipline fosters emotional growth as children identify their feelings and express them appropriately.  Children learn to stand up for their own rights, while also respecting the rights of others."  This benefit of using positive discipline with children was proposed by Karen Stephens in her Exchange article "What's So Positive about Positive Discipline?", which forms the basis for an Out of the Box Training Kit by the same name.  Stephens continues:

"Positive discipline helps children develop responsibility and independence as they treat materials with respect and care.  Valuable social skills are developed as children learn to problem solve and defuse confrontations.  Logical thinking is nurtured, as children comprehend rules and reasons for them.  When experiencing consequences, children learn about cause and effect.  They learn to anticipate and predict events within their control.

"When positive discipline is used, caregivers introduce children to the world of relationships with compassion and patience.  As a result, children develop social competence.  Just as importantly, they learn to trust adults.  By being treated with gentleness and high regard, they learn to respect and love themselves.  All this is possible when teachers focus on positive practices.  What greater legacy could an early childhood teacher leave?"

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