The childcare four and five year olds had been experiencing the skills of Conscious Discipline® for over six months. Early on in the training process this classroom experienced a plentiful amount of challenging behaviors on a daily basis including acts of physical aggression. As Conscious Discipline® skills were learned, many of the concepts of the program were utilized consistently by the two and sometimes three childcare providers involved. Childcare providers had participated in a comprehensive 14 hour training spanning a period of over five months. Each week a circle time was conducted by one of the Conscious Discipline® trainers. During these circle times, Brain Smart ™ strategies were modeled for the childcare providers and the children. The children were well versed at Being a S.T.A.R. and using other composure strategies. A Safe Place was available in the classroom complete with lights, music and a comfortable bear chair. It Starts in the Heart Conscious Discipline® songs were a regular part of each day. Children were hearing the language of safety and ways to be helpful were noticed on a regular basis. Yet, the childcare providers wondered if the children were really demonstrating genuine kindness, or would the novelty of the experience eventually wear off. Then one day, a child from this classroom fell on the playground and injured herself. Three children, each observing the situation from others parts of the playground without provider prompting, ran to find out if the injured child was “ok”. They then in turn, each came to the provider to secure a band aid for their classmate. These children valued healing more than hurting. They chose to care for the victim first, as opposed to running to tell the provider about the behavior of a bully. As the childcare provider related this story, she indicated that on that helpful day she had tears in her eyes and knew that Conscious Discipline® was a better way. Their healing had begun. The children of this childcare classroom designed a colorful star picture on canvas and shared this message of appreciation with their trainer and friend, Dear Miss Kay, Thank you for teaching us new songs….We really like the posters, our job chart and the tree. We have our tree almost filled up. We really loved it when you did circle with us.
Thank you for the opportunity to work with you and learn from you, childcare 4’s and 5’s. May your childcare family grow closer each day.