Positive discipline focuses on solutions to problems rather than punishment. Instead of punishing a child for saying or doing something inappropriate, a teacher using positive discipline would try to understand why the child did or said what he did and then brainstorm with the child to try and find a more appropriate way of behaving. Positive discipline involves effective communication, problem solving, encouragement and respect. The main goal behind positive discipline is to identify the motivation behind the behavior, rather than just punishing or changing the behavior itself.
Most child care centers employ a type of positive discipline in classrooms. Even toddlers can be effectively managed using positive discipline techniques. For example, if a toddler bites another child, an adult may intervene and help the child find the words to explain his feelings rather than immediately punish the child. In this way, children gain practice in voicing their opinions and emotions and it is the hope of the teacher that the child will eventually learn to express himself verbally in the future rather than resort to biting, hitting or other inappropriate behaviors.
Positive discipline works very well in preschool classrooms. Preschool children are verbal enough to be able to talk about their emotions and feelings. They are also just beginning to understand empathy, and therefore will be able to understand what others may be feeling. Positive discipline in a preschool environment will still rely heavily on appropriate adult interventions as well as reinforcement, praise and modeling. As children grow, the effects of positive discipline will begin to show, and they will soon be able to manage their own discussions with peers as well as solve small problems using appropriate means.
As children enter elementary school, positive discipline still plays a vital role. Parents, teachers and students must work together to provide a consistent set of rules and expectations. A cornerstone of positive discipline for older students is consistency. For example, if a child fails to complete an assignment, a positive discipline technique that may work is that the child will miss recess to finish the assignment. At home, if the same child fails to complete his homework, the child will have to stay indoors for the afternoon until the missed assignment is completed. In this way, the parent and teacher have stayed consistent in their discipline methods while also providing a solution to the problem rather than a punishment.