The statistics on school shootings in the United States are overwhelming. There have been 17 shootings on school grounds in 2018 alone; 8 of these being intentional and during school hours . In Florida, this week’s school shooting left 17 dead and 5 in intensive care. I am not a safety expert, I’m a school … Continue reading In Addition to Thoughts and Prayers: Actions to Address School Shootings
This may be a two-year-old being aggressive with their older siblings, or a child in a two’s program hitting classmates. I tend to think there are three (long run, four) parts to the answer: Coach being gentle You might read Hands are Not for Hitting by Aggasi, No Hitting by Katz, No More Hitting for … Continue reading When a Two Year Old Hits
So often when children argue, parents intervene and solve the issue. Two children are arguing over a toy, a parent enters and decides who gets the toy and what the other child should do while they wait. Or, two children are arguing over who goes first, a parent comes in and picks which one while … Continue reading When Children Argue, Build Their Skills
Charting behaviors like tantrums or aggression is often done by teachers in the classroom, so they can quickly gain a better understanding of what is happening. It is something parents can easily do at home. Charting means keeping detailed and consistent notes about the behavior. If a child were tantruming often in my classroom or … Continue reading How Charting Behaviors Helps: Tantrums and Aggression
The steps of positive discipline provide parents with a framework for moving through any discipline exchange. For most all behaviors, the idea is to work forward through the steps and consider which are needed or are the best fit. I tend to get through most discipline exchanges with empathy and choices or positive intent and … Continue reading How Discipline Works Backwards for Aggression
Four-year-old Johnny and Eric are building together. Eric moves one of Johnny’s blocks when Johny had it in the perfect place, and Johnney gets mad. Johnny yells, “no!” and hits Eric. This is a common scenario that plays out on playdates, between siblings and in preschools every day. As a parent or teacher, it can … Continue reading What to Do When a Child is Aggressive
Dear Dr. Rene, I am feeling stuck in a difficult situation. I have three children under five years old, and have been fortunate to be friends with our neighbor who has four children, three in the same age range. It was a great situation, we live so close and the kids enjoyed playing together. Unfortunately, one of … Continue reading A Friend’s Child is Aggressive
Dear Dr. Rene, Recently I asked my husband’s best friend’s three-and-a-half-year-old daughter to stop pushing our one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, her mother got upset. Her response was that the children have to learn to resolve the matter themselves. Is it okay to discipline your friend’s children if the parents don’t react to their kids aggressive behaviors towards … Continue reading Aggression from Other Children
>Dear Dr. Hackney, I attended your Positive Discipline class. Every time Sean (22 months) goes to hit someone, I say, “Hands down: hitting hurts” while holding his hands down. He seems to find this funny and just laughs every time I do it. Once his hands are free; he hits again. I don’t feel like … Continue reading >Aggressive 2 Year Old
>Dear Dr. Hackney, I attended your Positive Discipline class. Every time Sean (22 months) goes to hit someone, I say, “Hands down: hitting hurts” while holding his hands down. He seems to find this funny and just laughs every time I do it. Once his hands are free; he hits again. I don’t feel like … Continue reading >Hitting at 22 months
Parenting by Dr. Rene 