1. Developmental Education for the Early Years
CHAPTER 11: The Social Self: Fostering Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills
The Whole Child:
Developmental Education for the Early Years
Tenth Edition
Patricia Weissman
Joanne Hendrick

2. Discipline or Guidance Toward Self-Discipline?
View Problems as Learning Opportunities
Subtle Shift in Attitude
Aggressive or Disruptive Behaviors are Prime Learning Opportunities for Children
Children Make Mistakes While Learning Social Skills Just as They Make Mistakes While Learning Academic Skills- Not Cause for Punishment

3. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Support Ego Strength, Moral Judgment, and Social Awareness
Create classroom environment that fosters positive social interactions for each child
Rich in warm, caring relationships, respect, cooperation, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The child is given ample opportunity to practice and learn through interactions with other children.

4. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Suggestions for Creating a Peaceable, Caring Classroom in Which Children Develop Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills
Create a Sense of Trust and Safety
Establish a Close Relationship with Each Child
Establish a Caring Classroom
Teach Conflict Resolution Skills
Time-out is Not Conflict Resolution

5. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Steps for Teaching Children to Develop Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills
Recognize and discuss feelings and rules after a reasonable degree of calm has prevailed.
Have children take the responsibility of deciding when they can control themselves and return.
It is important to help children be successful when they do go back so that they have the experience of substituting acceptable for unacceptable behavior.
Follow through with suspending privileges if children repeat unacceptable behavior.

6. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Suggestions for Creating a Peaceable, Caring Classroom in Which Children Develop Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills (cont.)
Use Guidance Talks to Promote Self-Control
Use Class Meetings to Promote Social Awareness and Collaboration
Involve the Families in Creating a Peaceable Classroom

7. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Suggestions for Creating a Peaceable, Caring Classroom in Which Children Develop Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills (cont.)
Increase Children’s Feelings of Mastery by Giving Them Many Opportunities for Making Decisions
Increase the Child’s Feelings of Being a Competent, Worthwhile Person
Foster a More Social, Less Egocentric Orientation

8. Helping Children Establish Inner Controls
Suggestions for Creating a Peaceable, Caring Classroom in Which Children Develop Self-Discipline and Conflict Resolution Skills (cont.)
Stop Conflict Situations Before They Start
Mediate Conflict Resolution When Necessary
Remember: No Teacher Handles Every Situation Perfectly!
Learn from Your Own Difficulties and Mistakes

9. Reducing Aggression in the Classroom
Undesirable Ways to Cope with Aggression
The Authoritarian Teacher
The Overpermissive Teacher
The Inconsistent Teacher

10. Reducing Aggression in the Classroom
Desirable Ways to Cope with Aggression
Assess the Underlying Causes of Aggression, and Ameliorate Them When Possible
Never Allow Bullying
Teach Children Alternative Ways of Getting What They Want

11. Reducing Aggression in the Classroom
Desirable Ways to Cope with Aggression
Provide Substitute Opportunities for Socially Acceptable Expressions of Aggression
Stopping Some Activities Before They Start Saves Aggression Later
Finally, Plan, Plan, Plan!