Chapter 1 Quality Child Care: Today’s Growing Need
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Positive Guidance
Good programs are also characterized by staff who use positive guidance when
guiding children. There is an understanding that children need gentle guidance to
help them grow.
Positive guidance helps children learn what behaviors are acceptable. It is
matched to the age level and understanding of the children. This is in contrast to neg-
ative forms of guidance that focus on what the child does wrong. Negative guidance
is often based on unrealistic expectations of children’s behavior. It is often harsh and
makes children feel worthless and incompetent. Shame, humiliation, embarrassment,
threats, and physical punishment are examples of negative guidance.
In a good center, staff provides guidance based on each child’s needs, rather than
responding to children’s behaviors emotionally. Children are not overwhelmed by
rules. When limits are necessary, the children are given simple explanations that help
them to understand the logic of the adult world.
Positive guidance is a “teaching tool” in the classroom. Children are always
treated with a respect that helps them grow in self-confidence and self-control. Harsh,
demeaning types of control and punishment have no place in the preschool class-
room. They work against the goals of a quality program.
Parent Involvement
Young children’s concerns focus primarily around their families. The family is the
most important factor influencing them. Any program that wants to have a positive
impact on children must include parents. Parents and staff need to share pertinent
information regarding the children.
Children benefit most when parents and staff communicate with each other.
Teachers are often the first to detect special needs. Parents will know if a child has had
an upsetting experience outside of school.
Good programs involve parents in many ways. Some have parents represented on
the governing board. Others plan special activities for children and parents together.
Parents can help with fund-raising activities and providing ideas for future planning.
There may also be opportunities for parents to volunteer in the classroom or to attend
parent education classes.
Parent involvement helps parents feel they are an important part of the center. It
allows for additional interaction between the staff and parents. Parents are more likely
to share important information about their child if they feel comfortable with the
teachers. They will feel a sense of commitment to the center if they understand its
goals and methods.
What Will Be Your Role as the Director of a Center?
Directors of child care programs have certain responsibilities that are necessary to
ensure the center can operate effectively. The difficulty in carrying out these tasks may
be affected by the nature of the center. Small centers with few classrooms are usually
easier to administer than large ones. Centers that offer a wide variety of services to
families will be harder to direct than less complex programs.