- Discipline is not punishment, but an opportunity to help children behave appropriately.
- Discipline includes preventing problems and helping child succeed.
- Discipline helps children learn self-control and how to get along with others.
- It is appropriate and necessary for children to be curious, experiment and test the limits.
- The environment and routine should prevent crowding of children and other frustration or situations that lead to discipline concerns.
- All children, at all times, including their most challenging moments, deserve respect.
- Labeling children negatively affects everyone, especially the child.
- Role-modeling appropriate behavior is more effective than telling children how to behave.
- Before intervening, give children an opportunity to work out their struggles themselves, when possible.
- Limit the use of the word, “No.”
- Having a consistent adult response is the norm to redirecting behavior.
- Praise good behavior and efforts or attempts at trying to behave appropriately.