Eastern Connecticut State University
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Guiding Young Children's Behavior

A Project Navigate Training

Guiding Young Children's Behavior is an interactive training curriculum that provides current and future early childhood professionals with tools and strategies for guiding preschool children's behavior in positive ways. The curriculum was originally made possible through the generous support of the U.S. Department of Defense for Project Navigate, a project to support the professional development of early childhood professionals in U.S. Navy child care centers. Video clips from the curriculum are now available in their entirety below.

 

Segment 1: Fostering Trusting Relationships

  • Objective 1: Why trusting, supportive relationships are important
  • Objective 2: Why supportive relationships are important for children of Navy families
  • Objective 3: Ways to show warmth
  • Objective 4: Authentic ways to respond to children
  • Objective 5: Benefits of an attachment caregiver

Segment 2: Arranging the Classroom

  • Objective 1: Arranging classroom space
  • Objective 2: Designing a classroom getaway space
  • Objective 3: Resolving behavior problems by rearranging classroom space

 

Segment 3: Selecting Classroom Materials and Planning the Schedule

  • Objective 1: Open-ended classroom materials
  • Objective 2: Materials that are relevant to family and culture
  • Objective 3: Quiet and active materials
  • Objective 4: Enough materials and choices of things to do
  • Objective 5: Graded challenges
  • Objective 6: Balancing teacher-guided and child-centered activities             
  • Objective 7: Planning and reflection sessions

Segment 4: Establishing Classroom Rules

  • Objective 1: Why children should be involved in setting rules
  • Objective 2: Creating rules with children during a class meeting
  • Objective 3: Using child-created rules throughout the year

 

Segment 5: Responding to Behavior Problems and Resolving Conflicts

  • Objective 1: Redirection
  • Objective 2: Simple, positive reminders
  • Objective 3: Firm reminders and choice-giving
  • Objective 4: Conflict resolution
  • Objective 5: Modeling

Segment 6: Helping Children Identify and Express Emotions

  • Objective 1: How feelings can influence children’s behavior
  • Objective 2: Acknowledge and help children identify feelings
  • Objective 3: Guide children in expressing emotions
  • Objective 4: Help children understand others’ feelings
  • Objective 5: Use group time and children’s literature to help children learn about feelings

 
 

Credits

Author: Dr. Jeffrey Trawick-Smith

Production consultant: Dr. Denise Matthews

Video production: RISE Learning Solutions, Jefrerey Arias, Denise Matthews

Student production assistant: Kerin Jaros-Dressler

Graphic designer: Geomatrix Productions

Photographer: Jared Ramsdell

The Center would like to thank the administrators, teachers, parents, and children at the Child Development Programs at U.S. Naval Subase New London and U.S. Naval Base Newport for agreeing to be filmed for this training.

For more information, contact Julia DeLapp.
83 Windham Street, Willimantic, Connecticut 06226 USA
Phone Number: (860) 465-0885 | Fax: (860) 465-4315
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