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How to Empower Young Children

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Positive discipline is a hot topic these days. The approach sounds ideal but how on earth do we achieve being positive in the heat of the moment? I hear you. For me, being positive does not come easy. I have to practice. A lot.
positive Discipline

One of my Montessori instructors gave a great overview by Jody McVittie of Encouraging Solutions inspired by Teaching parenting the positive discipline way: A step-by-step approach to starting and leading parenting classes by Lynn Lott and Jane Nelsen. Here are a few of my takeaways!

Positive Discipline

  1. Show faith with a reminder: “I have seen you bring your dish to the sink before. I know you can do it.”
  2. Be curious: “What ideas do you have to clean up your play area?”
  3. Acknowledge Feelings: “I see that you were having fun. It is really hard to stop playing to pick up. Why don’t I pick up the trains and you pick up the track?”
  4. Check in with the child’s understanding: “What is supposed to be happening right now?”
  5. Cooperation with Choice: “I need your help and you are such a great helper. Do you want to clean up with a song or with silence?”
  6. Limit choices: “It is bedtime. Do you want to brush your teeth first or go to the bathroom first?”
  7. Be direct looking in the eyes of the child at the child’s level: “It is time to take a bath now.”
  8. Non-Verbal language: Place a hand gently on the child’s shoulder and then take the child by the hand leading her to the toys to be picked up. Smile.
  9. Empower: “Which sand timer do you want to turn over to give you enough time to pick up your trains?”
  10. Connect & redirect: “Working together is more fun. What would you like me to do to help you? What will you do to pick up?”
  11. As soon as: “As soon as you sit calmly in your chair, I will bring dinner to the table.”

I hope I inspired you today! Leave a comment! I love hearing from you!
Marnie

About Marnie Craycroft

Marnie hails from Maine where she spent summers buried in sand and winters buried in snow. She is the daughter of a nearly four decade veteran of the public school systems. Teaching has always been a part of her life. She founded Carrots Are Orange in 2010.

Carrots Are Orange is a Montessori learning and living website for parents and teachers.

Marnie graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 with a BA in Economics. She spent nearly a decade working in investment management. In 2006, she earned her MA in business from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Marnie moved to the west coast in 1999 and currently lives in Boulder with her husband and three sons. She is Montessori trained. Her work has been featured on Apartment Therapy, Buzzfeed, PBS Kids, BabyCenter, the Melissa & Doug blog, Huffington Post, and WhattoExpect.com. Besides writing, passions include running (usually after her three sons), photography, and outdoor adventures.

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