child guidance – eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019

Ways Child Care Providers Can Teach Preschoolers Self-Control

Learning self-control is an ongoing process in each child’s development. Child care providers can play an important role in encouraging children to develop self-control through interactions, appropriate guidance, and child-directed activities. When encouraging children’s self-control, child care providers need to be sure their expectations are appropriate and realistic for the particular child. The child’s age can be an indicator of what to expect, but children of the same age can be at different developmental levels. Be sure to consider the …

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019

What are the views and opinions of praise versus encouragement for young children?

Most studies report that encouraging children is better for their development than giving them praise. Encouragement promotes the child’s self-motivation and autonomy. This type of positive reinforcement allows them to choose their own standards of achievement without depending on comparison with others or unrealistic expectations. An example of encouragement may include general statements about a child’s work, such as, “It looks like you worked really hard on that painting,” or “Your picture is very colorful — you must be very …

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019

Handling Challenging Behaviors in Child Care

Girl pouting

Sometimes children in child care have difficult days. They may cry, scream, bite, throw things, or act out in other ways that are very challenging to child care providers. Luckily, there are many different ways to handle these challenging behaviors. The following articles suggest some ways to deal with behaviors such as biting, crying, temper tantrums, and rivalry between children that may frustrate both you and the children’s families.

Biting

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