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Pay Attention: A Nanny Perspective

I love all of the Positive Discipline tools, but when I had the opportunity to choose a few of my favorites to write about, I knew that “Pay Attention” would be at the top of my list to share. It might seem painfully obvious: of course we’re paying attention to the kids we watch, that’s our job! However, I do invite you to reflect on if you are truly, deeply paying attention to the kiddos around you.

Question: Hi, I attended your session at the Adlerian Conference in Myrtle Beach. It was really great! I now have a 14-month-old son and recently bought your book Positive Discipline, The First Three Years as he began to really start to show his little personality and I realized wow, I need help! I finished it tonight but still have a question and really wanted your opinion about the issue of hitting. Our son, is a very happy toddler but lately when he gets angry he will hit me and my husband in the face.

I feel amazed and grateful for the growth of Positive Discipline. There are so many wonderful people all around the world using Positive Discipline in their daily lives. Our Positive Discipline Association is growing every day and I see people encouraging and helping each other apply the principles of Positive Discipline.

Every parent and teacher should have these Positive Discipline Guidelines in their home or classroom.

Click Here to Download 7 Easy Ways to Connect with Kids Infographic. Versión en español

Connection is one of the first tools we present because it is foundational to every other tool. No one (parent or child) can be at his or her best until the feeling of connection is established.

Recently I was asked why children need routine charts when adults don’t need them. I pointed out that many adults create lists to help them keep track of what they want to do during the day, week, or month—and feel such a sense of accomplishment when they get to cross things off their lists. Many create goals and write them down to increase the effectiveness of their resolve. Others carry day planners to keep track of their appointments.

There is a belief behind every behavior, but we usually only deal with the behavior. Dealing with the belief behind the behavior does not mean you don't deal with the behavior. You are most effective when you are aware of both the behavior and the belief behind it.

We now have over 10,000 Certified Positive Discipline Facilitators teaching classes in many areas of the United States and in over 80 countries. Still, we have many requests from parents who cannot find a Positive Discipline Class in their area.

Many people have participated in the 52 Positive Discipline Tools in 52 Weeks challenge. All of these Positive Discipline tools are amazing, but it can be overwhelming to try and apply them all at once. Taking the challenge of applying one Positive Discipline Tool each week is a great way to stay focused on improving your relationship with your children.

When I was growing up, I didn’t know that anger is just a feeling. To me anger meant withdrawal of love. My mother didn’t tell me she was angry. She just wouldn’t speak to me for days. However, she did “speak” loud and clear with the look of disgust and disapproval on her face whenever she looked at me during those days of silence . My childlike mind twisted that to mean that people would stop loving me if I got angry.

Pay Attention: A Nanny Perspective

Toddlers and the Hitting Stage

What is Positive Discipline?

Positive Discipline Guidelines

7 Easy Ways to Connect with Kids

Routines

Using Candles to Deal with the Belief Behind the Behavior

Positive Discipline Parenting Classes

Applying the Positive Discipline Principles

The Anger Wheel of Choice: Anger is Just a Feeling

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