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Unit – 1 Importance and care during Early childhood years
Chapter No. 2 Disciplining techniques, prevention of ailments and accidents
What Is Discipline?
Discipline (the word itself means to impart knowledge and skill > to teach) is the process of guiding your child in what type of behavior is acceptable and what type is not acceptable. Discipline does not involve being mean, pointing out failures, or making anyone feel badly about themselves (including us as parents). The intent of discipline is to give a child the foundation they will need to live a better life as they grow older. It comes by way of self-regulating, taking directions from others, feeling competent as a person, being socially and emotionally adept, etcetera, etcetera. Simply stated—it’s really important to your child’s overall development.
Different parenting choices can have different effects on child development outcomes:
Authoritarian parenting styles generally lead to children who are obedient and proficient, but they rank lower in happiness, social competence and self-esteem.
Authoritative parenting styles tend to result in children who are happy, capable and successful.
Permissive parenting often results in children who rank low in happiness and self-regulation. These children are more likely to experience problems with authority and tend to perform poorly in school.
1|Page Uninvolved parenting styles rank lowest across all life domains. These children tend to lack self-control, have low self-esteem and are less competent than their peers.
Choosing Discipline Techniques
The discipline techniques you choose may depend on the type of inappropriate behavior your child displays, your child's age, your child's temperament, and your parenting style. The following techniques can be incredibly helpful: Recognize good behavior Acknowledging good behavior is the best way to encourage your child to continue it. Despite what their meltdowns might say, children do love to please! Compliment your child when he or she shows the behavior you've been seeking and potentially offer a reward if you feel it was a large milestone/accomplishment. Develop a stern face & tone of voice--and then don’t be afraid to use it! Children need to know when you are serious. If your child is running into a busy street, you wouldn’t politely ask if they’ll stop, you get their attention! Asking them to follow directions is no different (although you can use less screaming and special effects). Each teacher here has a “stern face/voice” and uses it when needed. The child knows the line has been drawn, warnings have been given, and the next step is a consequence. Natural consequences Natural consequences are you letting your child experience the result of their choice/behavior. There's no need for you to "lecture" or have long talks about what they did wrong. Young children don’t understand lecture based discipline and you could end up shaming them which is not beneficial (read Erik Erikson’s Theory, Stage 2). An example of a natural consequence would be if a child deliberately breaks a toy, he or she no longer has that toy to play with because it’s broken (and likely in the garbage). Natural consequences can work well with children who don't seem to "hear" your warnings about the potential outcome of their behavior. It’s a great way to get children to understand the cause and effect of their choices. Be sure, however, that any consequence they might experience isn't dangerous. Logical consequences This technique is similar to natural consequences, but involves describing to your child what the 2|Page consequences will be for unacceptable behavior. The consequence is directly linked to the behavior. For example, you tell your child that if he/she doesn't pick up their toys, those toys will be removed (put away) for the week. Like natural consequences, this practice works well with children, naturally building connections between their actions/behaviors and consequences. Taking away privileges Okay, so sometimes there isn't a logical or natural consequence for a bad behavior -- or you don't have time to think it through! In this case, the consequence for unacceptable behavior may be taking away a privilege. This discipline technique works best if the privilege is:
Related in some way to the behavior (even if you need a few minutes to think about it and then communicate the consequence!) Something the child values Does not reinforce the bad behavior (like going to time out from nap time for playing — time out only allowed them to “escape” the naptime, which was the intended result for the child!) It “fits” the crime—isn’t too severe or too mild Taken away as soon as possible after the inappropriate behavior Focused on teaching the child something Time outs This discipline technique can work with children when the child is old enough to understand the purpose of a time out -- usually around age 2 and older, with about a minute of time out for each year of age. Time outs often work best with younger kids for whom the separation from the parent, teacher or activity is truly seen as a deprivation. They are not effective if time outs are given as a consequence for something the child was trying to get out of. It’s important that shame tactics are not used with this technique (lecturing or prolonged “why’s” for the behavior, for example). Time outs are also helpful for the parent/adult if they are getting angry or vengeful towards the behavior. Know when you need a timeout as well! Although you probably can’t take a minute per year of age; your child could potentially make the most of being unsupervised and this would be a negative reinforcement. What about corporal punishment and spanking? Corporal (physical) punishment, such as spanking (or even withholding food), isn't recommended. Why? Primarily because nonphysical discipline techniques work better with 3|Page fewer negative consequences. Behaviorists, developmental psychologists, and/or theorists can give you lots of reasons not to hit your child, or you can read some wonderful information about it. Know that if you choose to spank, it may result in some of the following problems:
It can make a child more aggressive
it can become progressively violent and harm the child it reinforces the idea that hurting someone is OK (not just physically). A child may lose respect for the parent (“do as I say, not as I do”)
Tips for Maintaining Discipline
Whichever discipline techniques you choose to use, they can be more effective if you keep these ideas in mind: Be consistent! Any technique will fail if you don't follow through or enforce consequences consistently. Remember, you are trying to teach your child (and their brain) to make connections. Unless there is consistency, those connections cannot be made. Try to keep your goals and your techniques consistent over time as well. If more than one adult is responsible for the child's discipline, be sure they are aware of your discipline techniques and use them consistently. C Street uses all these techniques--fit to the child and behavior. Guide your discipline techniques to fit well with your child's temperament. The key to effective discipline is to understand who your child is, especially his/her temperamental style, and use your discipline to help him/her achieve his potential given those talents and tendencies. Communicate your discipline plan Discipline techniques shouldn't come "out of the blue," especially if you're trying something new. For children who are old enough to understand, during a planned discussion (not in the heat of the moment) explain what you are doing, why, and how it will help them. Older children may be included in choosing which rewards and consequences would be appropriate. Be respectful, cool and collected If you show your child respect -- even when disciplining your child -- your child is more likely to respect you, other family members, and other people in his or her life. If you "lose it" or 4|Page overreact with disrespect and heated anger or frustration, apologize to your child. Remember— children learn by what they see—you have to be what you want your child to be. When it's done, it's done After the consequence is over or the time has been served, don't ask for apologies or continue to lecture about the behavior. When their done, simply be done and help your child return to an appropriate activity. Understand what is appropriate for your child's development Before disciplining a child, make sure that the child really did understand what you asked him or her to do. Sometimes parents make demands for behavior that is beyond the child's ability to comply. Look for the "why" behind behaviors If you notice a pattern of inappropriate behavior, part of the solution is to look for "whys." Give yourself a break! Even if you have the best discipline techniques and parenting style, there are some days when nothing seems to work. Or perhaps you've had a bad day, too! Developing skills for positive discipline takes a lot of practice and a lot of time. If you feel you have made a mistake, be honest. Apologize to your child and explain why you are apologizing. Dust yourself off and move on. Generally, if any of the below concerns are noticed, seek outside professional help right away. The earlier we can catch these behaviors, the better end result for the child. Here is a list of behaviors we would deem as “needing special attention”:
Ongoing disrespect for all authorities: parents, teachers, and other adults Aggressive or destructive behavior Social withdrawal: signs of depression, such as feeling blue for a long time or having no friends Several relationships within the family are difficult for the child Excessive feelings of isolation and/or rejection. Feelings of being picked on or persecuted Expression of serious violence/threats in artwork, verbal communication, or play Uncontrolled anger Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating, and bullying behavior. 5|Page https://learnatcstreet.org/data/documents/Child-Discipline.pdf
PREVENTION OF AILMENTS AND ACCIDENTS
THE MOST COMMON AILMENTS ARE:
1. Common Cold A blocked or runny nose and watery eyes, sneezing and coughing are symptoms of common cold. Colds are common among infants and toddlers. If the child’s body feels hot, he could also be running a fever. 2. Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis Wheezing i.e. making a high-pitched whistling sound when breathing out, breathing rapidly and having trouble breathing. The small airways of the lungs could be infected. 3. Stomach Flu (Gastroenteritis) The child is suffering from nausea and vomiting, stools are smelly and watery, could be symptoms of stomach flu, or an infection in the gut. Other symptoms include muscle aches, abdominal pain and a slight fever. 4. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Rashes or blisters on child’s palms, feet or buttocks, have painful mouth ulcers, a fever or sore throat maybe the symptom of hand, foot and mouth disease. Occasionally, this can develop into something more serious. 5. Febrile Seizures During a febrile seizure, a child may become unconscious, turn stiff, fall down suddenly, or have jerking arms and legs. Other symptoms include a clenched jaw and rolling of the eyes back in the head. 6. Chickenpox A fever, and itchy, red spots on the body and face is a symptom. Chickenpox rash appears over a few days and eventually becomes blisters. The spots may leave scars if the scratched areas are infected. In healthy children, chickenpox is usually a common and mild disease. It is very contagious, and can easily spread through direct contact or droplets in the air from an infected person. 6|Page 7. Eczema A red, itchy rash on limbs, face or trunk, constantly scratching and complaining of itch. Children suffering from eczema usually have a family history of eczema and other related conditions like asthma or hay fever. It is not infectious.
8. Asthma Child sometimes wheeze and experience tightness or pain in the chest, finds it difficult to breathe, Or perhaps cough that won’t go away. With asthma, a child’s airways are sensitive and inflamed. 9. Constipation Child not pooping as often as he usually does, poop pattern slowed down a lot, and stools harder than usual. Child may have constipation. Other symptoms include a hard abdomen, discomfort and crankiness. It is rare for breastfed babies to suffer from constipation as breast milk is easily digested. 10.Ear Pain Ear pain is common in children and can have many causes—including ear infection (otitis media), swimmer's ear (infection of the skin in the ear canal), pressure from a cold or sinus infection, teeth pain radiating up the jaw to the ear, and others. 11.Urinary Tract Infection Bladder infections, also called urinary tract infections or UTIs, occur when bacteria build up in the urinary tract. A UTI can be found in children from infancy through the teen years and into adulthood. Symptoms of a UTI include pain or burning during urination, the need to urinate frequently or urgently, bedwetting or accidents by a child who knows to use the toilet, abdominal pain, or side or back pain. 12. Pink Eye Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is the inflammation of the eye and inner eyelid. Pink eye can have several causes, but is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria that are transferred from a child’s hands to their eyes. Other kinds of conjunctivitis are caused by reactions to allergens like pollen, ragweed, or dust in the air. Pink eye can be successfully avoided through regular hand washing and taking any prescribed allergy medications. Remind your kids to wash their hands after coming in from outside, after sharing toys, and before touching their faces or removing contact lenses.
7|Page Prevention Get vaccinations. Wash hands regularly. Getting child into the habit of washing their hands is one of the most powerful ways to prevent illness. Encouraging them to wash their hands before and after eating, after using the bathroom, and after coming home from playing outside or in a public area. Cover coughs and sneezes. prevent the spread of illness by covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow. Remember to wash hands after! Disinfect toys, electronics, and communal objects. Bacteria and parasites can survive on some surfaces for many days. Use alcohol wipes or rubbing alcohol to clean favorite toys, tablets, phones, doorknobs, and any other commonly touched household object. Wash bath towels and bedsheets in hot water every week. Eat healthy and exercise regularly. Following a healthy diet and exercising are powerful ways to boost the immune system. Start good habits early. Explain early and often why good hygiene matters. Integrate good hygiene habits into daily routines—and don’t forget to tell child when they’ve done a good job.
ACCIDENTS
Accidents to children are a significant health issue, being a major cause of preventable death, serious injury and long-term disability. Under-5s are particularly at risk of being injured in home accidents, with falls accounting for the majority of non-fatal accidents and threats to breathing such as suffocation, strangulation and choking causing the highest number of deaths. Falls Around 10 children die as a result of falls each year - some from windows and balconies and the remainder mostly from stairs. Falls are by far the most common causes of accidents in the home; they account for 44 per cent of all children's accidents. Many accidents are caused by horseplay involving pushing, shoving and wrestling. Children have also died or have been seriously injured by heavy objects such as furniture and televisions being pushed or pulled over them. Prevention Never leave tripping hazards on the stairs
8|Page Stairs should be carefully maintained - damaged or worn carpet should be repaired or removed Stairs should always be well lit Do not put anything under the window that can be climbed on Furniture and tall kitchen appliance, at risk from being pulled over, should be secured to the wall.
Fires Domestic fires pose one of the greatest risks to children. Children playing with matches and lighters frequently start house fires. Prevention Keep matches and lighters out of sight and reach of children Extinguish and dispose of cigarettes properly Have an escape route planned, and practise it, in case of fire Fit a smoke alarm
Scalds and burns
Many of the children who go to accident and emergency with a burn or a scald are referred on for further hospital treatment. Recovery may be long and painful and many are left with permanent scarring. Hot drinks cause most scalds to children under the age of five. A child's skin is much more sensitive than an adult's and a hot drink can still scald a child 15 minutes after being made. Young children are also very vulnerable to sunburn. Hot bath water is responsible for the highest number of fatal and severe scalding injuries among young children. Children can also suffer burns after contact with open fires, a cooker, irons, curling tongs and hair straighteners, cigarettes, matches, cigarette lighters and many other hot surfaces. Prevention Never hold a hot drink and a child at the same time Never leave young children alone in the bathroom Put hot drinks out of reach and away from the edges of tables and worktops Encourage the use of a coiled flex or a cordless kettle Keep small children out of the kitchen whenever possible
9|Page When running a bath turn the cold water on first and always test the water temperature with your elbow before letting a child get into the bath or shower Keep hot irons, curling tongs and hair straighteners out of reach even when cooling down.
Glass-related accidents The increased use of glass in the home has led to more glass related accidents. Every year children die following an accident with architectural glass. Many children are also injured when glass tumblers and bottles break. Prevention Use safety glass Make existing glass safer by applying shatter resistant film Always clear up broken glass quickly and dispose of it safely
Poisoning Most poisoning accidents involve medicines, household products and cosmetics. Some poisoning agents can cause breathing difficulties - seek medical attention immediately. Prevention Keep medicines and chemicals out of sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard Wherever possible, buy products in child resistant containers Always store chemicals in their original containers Dispose of unwanted medicines and chemicals safely Avoid buying plants with poisonous leaves or berries or those that can irritate the skin.
Suffocating and choking
Children can swallow, inhale or choke on items such as small toys, peanuts and marbles. Babies and small children are most at risk from choking because they examine things around them by putting them in their mouths. Prevention Choose toys appropriate to the age of the child Ensure that small objects such as marbles and peanuts and small toys are kept out of reach of children under three years old 10 | P a g e Encourage older children to keep their toys away from their younger playmates Pull cords on curtains and blinds should be kept short and kept out of reach Small food such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, blackberries and other soft fruits should cut into quarters to prevent choking. Strangulation including blind cords
Drowning Children can drown in less than 3cm of water. They should be under constant supervision when in or near any water. Prevention Never leave children or babies in the bath unsupervised, even for a moment Never leave uncovered bowls or buckets of water around the home Paddling pools should be emptied and stored away when not in use Garden ponds should be filled in while children are small or securely fenced off. Take special care when visiting other people’s gardens. Preventing accidents to children "A safe, secure and sustainable environment is a prerequisite for a healthy nation." A combination of factors is required: Environment Improvement in planning and design results in safer homes and leisure areas. Adaptations such as fireguards and safety gates help to make the home environment safer. Education This involves increasing the awareness of the risk of accidents in a variety of settings and providing information on ways of minimising these risks. Empowerment Local consultation and community involvement can generate a strong sense of commitment and ownership. Accident prevention initiatives, which have been influenced by the community, are more likely to reflect local need and therefore encourage greater commitment. Enforcement There is legislation which relates to child safety. These regulations ensure that the products we buy meet a reasonable level of safety performance and that new dwellings meet an acceptable level of safety. 11 | P a g e General safety advice Children should be supervised at all times Keep floors free of toys and obstructions that can be tripped over Always use a securely fitted safety harness in a pram, pushchair or highchair Never leave babies unattended on raised surfaces Do not place baby bouncers on raised surfaces - they could fall off with the movement of the baby The use of baby-walkers and table-mounted high chairs is not recommended.
