yakkers.jpg Question: I teach 1st and 2nd grade (combined classes). I am having trouble finding inventive ways to control the chatter while I (or a student) am trying to talk. Please help! Answer: My favorite suggestion for all classroom problems is to use class meetings to let the kids find solutions. They are good at it. They […]
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When are Children Old Enough to Participate in Family Meetings?
Question: Jane – How old do you suggest children be to start family meetings? My boys are 3 1/2 and 5 years old. I’d like to start family meetings to discuss issues that need to be addressed and get the boys involved, but I’m thinking they may be too young. Thanks. Julie Answer: Hi Julie, […]
Back to School Without the Battle
Somewhere between the last day of summer freedom and the first day of school, most families hit the same wall. Bedtimes have drifted. Mornings have gone soft and slow. And now, suddenly, everyone is expected to snap back into alarm clocks, backpacks, and out the door by 7:45. Parents often ask me, “How do I […]
The One Parenting Mistake We All Make After Our Kids Make Mistakes
by Jane Nelsen A father once asked me, “How do I get my son to stop making the same mistakes over and over?” I smiled and asked him a question. “How many times have you made the same mistake?” He laughed. Then he paused. “More than I’d like to admit.” Exactly. Children make mistakes because […]
Screen Time Isn’t the Problem. It’s What Screens Replace.
by Dr. Jane Nelsen “One more game.” Jane Nelsen remembers saying those words to herself while playing Hearts on her computer late one night. She knew she should go to bed, but she kept thinking, Just one more game. The next morning she deleted the game. That experience led Jane to a realization long before […]
A Letter from Iran: Positive Discipline in Days of Crisis
by Mohammad J. Farshchi and Mohammad H. Sharifian We wanted to share how Positive Discipline helped us, and many families in Iran, during days of crisis, fear, displacement, and uncertainty. In the name of God, the Source of peace, connection, and human dignity Dear members of our global Positive Discipline family, We are two Positive […]
5 Positive Discipline Tools Every Family Needs This Summer
Summer is a wonderful time for families. The pace often slows down, schedules become more flexible, and there are opportunities for more connection and fun. At the same time, summer can bring its own challenges. Without the structure of school, children may become bored, spend excessive time on screens, argue more with siblings, or push […]
Take Time for Training
Many people are having fun applying the principles from the Positive Discipline Tool Cards. When they share their great examples, I ask for their permission to share with others. Take Time for Training I applied a few Take Time for Training strategies today during “room cleaning” day. In the past my procedure was as follows: […]
Class Meetings
Class meetings invite students to learn by doing. They provide the practice arena for all of the skills necessary to grow citizens who are responsible, respectful and resourceful members of the community. The Positive Discipline vision is about schools where children never experience humiliation when they fail but instead feel empowered by the opportunity to […]
Family Meetings
by Dr. Jane Nelsen family-meeting.jpg It is difficult for me to choose a favorite Positive Discipline parenting tool, but family meetings are at the top. Children learn so much during family meetings, such as listening, respecting differences, verbalizing appreciation, problem-solving, focusing on solutions, and experiencing that mistakes are wonderful opportunities to learn. I have a […]