For courses in guidance and management of young children. Based on the idea that childhood professionals, like physicians, should "first, do no harm," this popular, student-friendly text exemplifies a positive, constructivist approach to guidance that respects, protects, and helps children become self-responsible, competent, independent, cooperative people who like themselves and have strong values. Content is based on understanding the authoritative style of caregiving, understanding child development to make guidance decisions, and on observing behavior. The author never mandates a "cookbook" of techniques for guiding children, but rather, encourages students to use the Decision-Making Model of Child Guidance - a model that evolves from an understanding of a variety of child guidance theories, including those of Piaget, Vygotsky, Rogers, and Adler. Students will learn not only how to guide prosocial behavior and organize a developmentally appropriate classroom environment, but also how to minimize challenging and violent or agressive behavior, and how to help children express anger and cope with stress.

Table of Contents

I. GUIDANCE OF YOUNG CHILDREN: THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS. 1. Child Guidance: Developmentally Appropriate Practice. 2. Construct Child Guidance Decisions: Apply Knowledge of Child Development. 3. Observing Behavior in Child Guidance. II. "DIRECT" AND "INDIRECT" CHILD GUIDANCE. 4. Positive Guidance and Discipline Strategies: Direct Guidance. 5. DAP Early Childhood Classroom Management: Indirect Guidance. III. SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHILD GUIDANCE. 6. Authentic Self-Esteem and Moral Identity. 7. Resilience and Stress in Childhood. 8. Emotional Intelligence and Anger Management. 9. Preventing Violent Behavior and Understanding Aggression in Children. 10. Guiding the Development of Prosocial Behavior. 11. Minimizing Challenging Behavior IV. DEVELOP AN ECLECTIC APPROACH TO CHILD GUIDANCE. 12. Theories: Strengthening the Foundation of DAP Child Guidance. 13. Apply Your Knowledge: Use the Decision-Making Model of Child Guidance. Appendix. Review: Major Positive Discipline Strategies. References. Author Index. Subject Index.

Reviews

"The text uses more of the specific strategies that are applicable when working daily with children. The information is accurate and speaks to children's needs. It is important for adults to understand the children's point of view: stressors, temperaments, type of caregiving under which children have been raised. This viewpoint is unique among texts. Most texts present material, concepts, strategies, etc. to "feed the students," whereas M. Marion presents material with the child's needs in mind. For once we have an author that practices DAP!" -- Susan Christian, Patrick Henry Community College