FREE Resources
https://consciousdiscipline.com/methodology/school-family/#:~:text=The%20School%20Family%20builds%20connections,creating%20our%20classrooms%20and%20schools.
Conscious Discipline
Overview
Conscious Discipline is a way to help small children become aware of their actions and how they affect others, whether it is in a positive or negative way. I have seen first hand that when children grow up in an environement with it, they become people who have more empathy and kindness towards others. They feel good about who they are because they know that they have always been safe and loved.
What is Conscious Discipline and who is good for?
I had worked in an Early Childhood Education setting for almost twenty years. In my time there I took many traingings on helping to tecah and reach small children. But it wasn't until I took an entire week seminar on Conscious Discipline that I realized that you need really understand the way a child's mind works and how they love and hurt before you can get them to trust and want to learn from you. Conscious Discipline emphasizes connection through empathy, encouragement, the School Family, I Love You Rituals and more. Once a small child feels connected, they are more willing to see from another point of view and understand the impact of their behavior on others.
Calming Breaths
Children and adults sometimes need a moment to get themselves together. Whether they are upset, sad, to wound up or just need a break, a calming breath in a safe and quiet spot (preferably with a mirror) can really help out a lot.
Taking calming breaths can help with:
- Self-regulation
- Active calming
- Deep breathing
- Fussing and fits
- Self-control
- Emotional intelligence
- Social-emotional learning
Please watch the video attached where you can watch Dr. Becky Bailey talk more about how breathing helps and how to help a toddler follow these breathing exercises.
How can you create a School Family?
I can tell you that for me, it took time and a lot of repetition to have my little students and theeir parents become used to being a part of our Family. We used to sing a song at the begining of each day before we took attendance that would welcome the children to our family. In the mornings during drop off we made sure to greet the parents with a high five or a some form of connection so that their children would see that we are ALL part of the school family and that we are all working together to create a safe and fun learning environment. Please watch the video to hear the song about being a part of the School Family and hear about the Wish Well Heart. We would have a big circle that had aheart in the center of it with all the children's pictures on it and when someone was absent, we would take their photo and put it in the center of the hear.
FREE CONTENT!
If you found some of the information that I shared interesting and helpful, please feel free to visit the Conscious Discipline web page. You will find so many free resources that you don't even have to create an account to access! Dr. Becky Bailey wants to help young children, their families, and their teachers.
The videos I shared where either from the free resource page or videos I made myself.