Top 5 Strategies for Families:

How to integrate Positive Guidance

Positive Guidance 1) Set Clear, Consistent and Simple Limits
It is important to set limits for your child so that they know
what is to be expected from you. Try to keep limits minimal

Strategies
and short in order to avoid confusion and overwhelming your
child.
PARENT TEACHERS 2) Explain limits in a positive way, rather than negative
It is important for you to focus on the positive behaviours you
20XX
for Toddlers
ASSOCIATION wish to see from your child, rather than the negative.
Approaching situations with a positive attitude decreases the
risk of negative behaviour.
3) Focus on the behaviour, rather than the child
It is important to word your phrases in a way that explains to
your child that you are upset with their behaviour, rather then
them.
4) Reinforce Appropriate Behaviour with both Words and
Gestures
Always try to reinforce positive behaviour, as it is more
What is positive guidance? likely that your child will repeat the behaviour again once
they see the positive outcome. Try ignoring negative

Why is it Important? behaviours and focus on the positives.

5) Provide choices
Positive guidance is focused around the belief of Give children options instead of giving a direct command. An
teaching children long term self-management and example of this would be instead of saying: ‘eat your dinner
now’, you could say: ‘Would you like to finish your chicken
coping skills, rather than punishing the child for
or vegetables first?’
each short-term negative behavior. ‘Positive Strategy Titles: (BC Daycare Action Coalition, 2016,p.6-8)
guidance is currently considered to be quality
practice in working with young children. Positive
guidance techniques, as opposed to overly
permissive or overly punitive discipline
techniques, are most beneficial for the social and
emotional health of young children (Flicker and
Hoffman 2002; Gartrell 2002; Porter 2003). The
philosophy behind positive guidance is to support
and direct children in the growth of effective life
skills’ (McFarland, 2009, p. 506).
 Community Organizations
The Day School Milieu Treatment Program
(DSMTP), The Etobicoke Children’s Centre

65 Hartsdale Drive,
Etobicoke, ON M9R 2S8

Additional Resources/Information Tel: (416) 240-1111

on Positive Guidance Strategies for

Fax: (416) 240-7999
Email: ecc@etobicokechildren.com

Toddlers The E.C.C provides children and families with trained

Positive Child Guidance – 8 Edition
th
Author: Darla Ferris Miller
Subject: This book dives deep into the many strategies’
parents can use with their children. This book looks at
unique perspectives from a child’s view and
incorporates cultural needs into their strategies.
professionals in order to create a service plan for the child. Families
are taught efficient parenting/disciplinary/guidance strategies with
the goal of better assisting their child in their development.
Central Eglinton Community Centre
160 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 3B5.
Tel: (416) 392 0511
Fax: (416) 392 0514
Email: info@centraleglinton.com

This EarlyON Centre in Downtown Toronto provides children and

families with an open, drop in space where families can interact
with their children and seek advice from trained professionals on
appropriate guidance strategies.

Child Guidance & Family Solutions: Toddlers And

Preschoolers Succeeding (TAPS)

Youtube Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZZQAOiq5eo

Subject: This video shows parents discussing their

concerns with their toddler/preschool age children and
what strategies they used, with the help of
professionals, to overcome them.

“Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction.” -Anne Sullivan
(ASPCC, 2018)