Child guidance is the practice of teaching children how to treat others, themselves, and their property with the respect and care that will help them thrive in the world. The goals of First Circle’s child guidance policy are for children to develop positive self-esteem, and socially acceptable ways of expressing their needs and feelings. We concentrate on prevention and skill-building rather than discipline, and our policy is designed to encourage the children to practice self-control, develop decision-making skills, and take responsibility for their own actions. We teach children common courtesy and respect for themselves, others and for property.

In conjunction with our MyCharacter program, our child guidance philosophy teaches children how to self-manage, and is designed to help children:

• Develop self-confidence, independence, and self-control.
• Learn to balance personal needs with those of others.
• Cultivate respect for themselves, others, and property.
• Practice kindness, communication, and non-violent conflict resolution.
• Make thoughtful, caring decisions and solve problems effectively.

We value each child’s individuality and partner with families to support their development. Our guidance practices are informed by expertise, research, best practices, and regulatory recommendations while respecting each family’s values and cultural context.

Our child guidance policy seeks to:

• Model appropriate behavior
• Encourage self-control through redirection and reinforcement
• Set clear, consistent, and positive expectations
• Intervene immediately in cases of physical aggression
• Teach positive conflict resolution strategies
• Promote consistency through staff discussions on behavior management