Philosophy on Raising Children

These are the philosophies that guide my interactions with the children in my in-home daycare. As a Parent Consultant, I would help you adapt this philosophy to your own situation.

Shaping of behavior

Through my studies and my own experience, I’ve developed a strong knowledge base on how to raise children to be happy, confident and polite. I believe strongly that the parents and care givers should agree on these principles to ensure the optimal development of the child.

Use positive reinforcement

The cornerstone of my interactions with children is pointing out and praising good behavior. If an adult they admire notices when they ask politely or share, they feel proud of themselves and want to repeat the behavior. This technique is especially effective right before I think the children may make a wrong decision.

Follow through with clear, natural consequences

While I am bubbly, happy and silly with kids, I am strict in enforcing previously defined limits. For instance, when young children are climbing up onto the couch, I’ll remind them that they can sit or lay down, but if they jump, they will be “all done” on the couch. While other caretakers may simply remind them again if they jump, I believe that by sticking to the rules, the children learn that there are consequences to their actions and to respect the rules.

Train to fall asleep on their own

Though I love to rock sleepy babies until they're fast asleep, I realize the benefit of helping them learn to fall asleep on their own. I do this in a manner in which they feel relaxed and confident that I am there for them. The great thing is, when they wake up in the middle of the night, they know the process to fall back asleep on their own.

Emphasize emotions

Setting children up for success in life means developing their emotional intelligence (EQ). I talk about feelings to teach empathy for others and self-awareness. As children develop, they can progress from understanding more immediate concepts like “Oh, you’re so happy!” to more challenging concepts like “Why do you think that boy is crying?”

Provide options

Giving children the choice between two acceptable alternative helps them feel in control as well as helps avoid conflicts of wills.

Don't give in to whining or temper tantrums

Research and my experience show that the best thing to do when children are having tantrums is to calmly state the behavior I want to see and then ignore the children until they calm down. Giving in to the children or giving them more attention only reinforces the effectiveness of tantrums in the children’s eyes. Even though giving in may seem like the best short-term solution, it will only create more tantrums and whining in the future.

Work their minds and bodies each day

With my experience and educational background, it comes naturally for me to teach through play. It's effortless for the kids to acquire the knowledge and skills so they're meeting developmental milestones and ready for preschool. See "What Sets me Apart" to read about how teaching through play is my goal throughout our days of fun.

I'm a big proponent of outdoor play and exploration. By exploring the parks and nature areas close to home, children can strengthen certain muscle groups and gross motor skills, let off steam and feel the freedom that accompanies nature.

Practice life skills

Children look up to and model the adults in their world. By being conscious of what I say and how I act, I can show children what is appropriate. Before I say anything, I make sure that I’d be happy if the children repeated it. I practice waiting patiently, working well through a problem with another adult, and having calm and productive reactions to situations that would frustrate children. If I spill the pasta, I make it a teaching opportunity! “Oh bummer. I knocked over and spilled all the pasta. Well since I spilled it, I should clean it up.”

Education

As children are growing up, there are so many opportunities to hone both their academic and life skills. Everything that adults do influences and can therefore help how children develop.

Model how to deal appropriately with your emotions

Philosophy on Parent/Care Giver Partnership

While I have experience and education in this field, you know your children inside and out. As your child's daycare provider, it’s important that we work together as a team in caring for and raising your child.

Positive relationship between parents and me

I know that parents love to hear the cute things their children did during the day and interesting tidbits. By taking the time to talk with you in the beginning and end of the day, we are also sure to not miss the children's needs, whether they be emotional, intellectual or health related.

In addition to talking about the children's needs, it's good to talk about our relationship. It's helpful for me to have regular conversations with you so that I have feedback on what I am doing well along with any issues that may be of a concern to you.

Consistency

Consistency is a critical factor in shaping children’s behavior. By deciding together what the limits are, and enforcing them consistently, the children are clear on the rules and consequences. As a team, we’ll decide what is allowed and what is not allowed such as jumping on the bed, or kneeling on chairs. We’ll also decide what to do when children act inappropriately such as hitting a sibling, throwing a toy or jumping on the couch. While daycare and home are two separate locations and kids can adapt to specific rules and routines at each, open communication between the parent and the caregiver are crucial. If problems are creeping up in one location, we can address it most effectively together.