February 17, 2007
www.empoweringpeople.com and www.positivediscipline.com
Jane Nelsen wishes to change our perception of discipline to a more positive, affirming way of interacting with our children (or students - she does a lot of classroom training too). Rather than punishing a child for doing 'bad', it's the parent's responsibility to realize the deeper reason for the child's 'mis' behavior and communicate with the child as an equal. She also emphasizes fostering a connection between the child, their family and their community, giving younger members a voice to have meaningful input so they feel useful and develop a sense of belonging. This concept picks up where the Continuum Concept leaves off, around age two.
Our story:
Four months ago I took one of Jane Nelsen's day long workshops and found the information very helpful. Our son has just turned two years old and even prior to that I was already using positive discipline 'time-out'; according to Jane Nelsen and experienced a wonderfully positive response from my child. Jane Nelsen's 'time-out' is quite different than the one we have heard so much about from child psychologists in the last ten years. She suggests creating a supportive, welcoming space where our children can go when they feel the need to misbehave. It is a place where they can take a step back from life and the need to respond, a place where they can find their center and inner calm. Then they are replenished and equipped to join the tribe again. She also offers many other suggestions on ways to respond positively to your child's misbehaviors. We have obviously just started on this path but I feel very fortunate to have been introduced to this positive way of disciplining.
The two books that were recommended to us, of the many that Jane Nelsen has written, are Positive Time-Out and Positive Discipline A-Z.