The Discipline Wheel offers a positive, proactive approach to guiding children's behavior with no need for punishment or negative consequences.  It is based on many years of experience with children of all ages, including children with challenging behaviors and special needs.

Parents and child care providers can use The Discipline Wheel to establish an important foundation for each child's emotional and social success.

By using The Discipline Wheel you can avoid power struggles and resolve those little conflicts that happen dozens of times each day. By combining and balancing four important parenting skills into an effective way of communicating with children, you can help them develop high self esteem, respect for others, and a sense of responsibility for their own actions.

Goals of Discipline: Toddler to Teen

When discipline is used effectively, children of all ages can learn to:

• trust their own feelings and perceptions
• have a sense of personal dignity
• develop effective decision-making skills
• take responsibility for their own actions
• feel secure
• demonstrate respect for others
• cooperate with limits and rules
• cope effectively with anger and other strong emotions

The goal of using The Discipline Wheel is to help children cope with frustrations, conflicts, and strong feelings that arise on a daily basis.  Rather than using discipline to simply deter unwanted behaviors and achieve obedience, you can use The Discipline Wheel to help children grow emotionally and socially. Children will grow into adults who are happy and productive; who have high self esteem and respect for others; who take responsibility for their own feelings and actions, and who can solve problems effectively.  By using The Discipline Wheel, you can avoid power struggles that end up leading to your own frustration as you deal with children's behavior.  You can take the child's side and see things from his or her point of view, while at the same time enforcing a firm limit.  You can help the child to cope with feelings of anger and frustration, and to find effective ways of communicating to resolve conflicts.  You can provide information that will allow the child to determine the appropriate action to take, without having to rely on directives or commands from adults.  You can guide the child to demonstrate mature, responsible behavior, a willingness to listen to the points of view of others, and the capability of finding creative ways to make sure that everyone "wins".