Caring for and Guiding Children

Focus Topic: Nurturing and Guiding Children

Provide a Nurturing Environment Makes them feel

1. Sending Messages with Love Express

2. Making Direct Eye Contact A message of Eye contact meets

3. Providing Close Physical Contact A hug or an arm around the shoulder Discuss: Why is close physical contact so important for a child’s growth and development? How is development affected if a child does not receive close physical contact?

4. Spending Time Together Uninterrupted time

Definitions Guidance is all that parents do and say as they influence their children’s behavior in a positive way. Self-control is the ability to control oneself in a responsible way.

Methods of Guidance Establishing routines. Using natural consequences.

Modeling Children love to Modeling is This is the first of seven ways to guide children. Discuss: Why is it sometimes difficult for a parent to model appropriate behavior? If a parent makes an occasional mistake, do you think it could leave a lasting negative impact on the child? (Consider a child’s resiliency and the overall environment.)

Setting Limits Limits should be Parents should have

Establishing Routines They help children

Redirecting Redirecting is This training is very

Reinforcing Reinforcement is Examples are Reinforcement must occur

Using Natural Consequences A natural consequence is A direct relationship must that action.

Punishing Punishment gives Examples are Parents should discuss the punishment Through the discussion, parents can help the child

Considerations for Using Guidance Choose a method that Ask questions such as these:

Focus Question What can parents do to assure their children of their love and to guide them to appropriate behavior?