QR4 Positive Guidance Requirements

Quality Rating 4: Positive Guidance

Requirements

Let’s look at the requirements for Developmentally Appropriate Learning and Practice: Positive Guidance: DAP 3.4.

Review the requirements for your program type.

Some terms may be unfamiliar to you. Select the hyperlinks for more information.

Child Care Center

DAP 3.4: Positive Guidance

Staff uses positive behavioral supports and strategies with children that include providing choices, using redirection, reflection and problem solving, and clear rules and expectations developed with input from the children.

Documentation to submit: Positive Behavioral Practices Policy

Family Child Care

DAP 3.4: Positive Guidance

Provider and any staff uses positive behavioral supports and strategies with children that include providing choices, using redirection, reflection and problem solving, and clear rules and expectations developed with input from the children.

Documentation to submit: Positive Behavioral Practices Policy

School-Age Only

DAP 3.4: Positive Guidance

Staff uses positive behavioral supports and strategies with children that include providing choices, using redirection, reflection and problem solving, and clear rules and expectations developed with input from the children.

Documentation to submit: Positive Behavioral Practices Policy

Key Terms

Providing Choices:

Offering choices to children is a proactive behavioral support strategy that gives children a sense of empowerment and control in their environment. At the same time, choices foster children’s development of responsibility and independence. Children need choices throughout the day: meals and snacks, where to play, where to sit, and what materials to use are just a few opportunities for children to make choices for themselves.

Redirection:

Redirection is a positive behavioral support technique where the adult changes the child’s focus or direction from a negative behavior or experience to a positive one. It may involve one of four different types of redirection: verbal, physical, verbal with a visual cue, and redirection of attention to a positive model.

Reflection and Problem Solving:

Reflection is an important step in learning to solve problems. It involves stopping to think about a challenging situation, evaluating a course of action to resolve the problem, and taking positive steps to solve the problem.

Clear Rules and Expectations Developed with Input from the Children

Clear rules and expectations provide guidelines for children on how to manage their behavior. Understanding there are consistent and predictable limits within the environment help children feel more secure and safe.