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(Unit 3) Topic 2: Interactions and Guidance ​

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Guiding Young Children’s Behavior 

​Topic 2 Page 12

Early childhood teachers enjoy working with young children as they learn new things, use their creativity, interact with others, and communicate their stories. Most early childhood teachers do not enjoy the challenges presented by children’s inappropriate behaviors. Unfortunately, misbehavior or mistaken behavior is an unavoidable part of working with children. Remember, all skills need to be practiced before they are mastered. 

Early childhood teachers play an important role in guiding the behavior of young children. Positive child guidance and discipline promote children’s self-esteem, help children develop responsibility, and influence children in making thoughtful choices. 

Teaching young children appropriate behavior and self-discipline is a difficult task that requires:

•  Patience
•  Thoughtful attention
•  Cooperation
•  Knowledge of the child
•  A reflective knowledge of one’s personal struggles with discipline issues ​​

Early childhood teachers who effectively guide and foster children’s appropriate behavior may spend less time in resolving misbehavior. The ultimate goal is to have children learn to self-regulate and guide their own behavior. 

Definitions of Behavior Terms

Guidance teaches children to solve their problems in socially acceptable ways (Gartell) and refers to all methods that are used to encourage children’s positive behavior.

Positive guidance methods are based on the children’s development and are focused on maintaining the child’s self-esteem and dignity.

Discipline methods help children learn to control their behavior and act according to their ideas of what is right and wrong. People often mistake discipline for punishment.

Punishment is used to penalize the child for making a wrong choice and is detrimental to building self-esteem. It fosters resentment and retaliation. It may make the child stop the inappropriate behavior for the moment but it will not be a learning experience. ​

(Unit 3) Topic 2: Interactions and Guidance ​ * Navigation Menu