Influences

We believe in Positive Behavior Guidance. Positive Behavior Guidance is an approach to supporting children’s behavior that focuses on teaching, relationship-building, and skill development rather than punishment. Instead of trying to “control” or “fix” behavior, we work to understand what children need and guide them toward appropriate ways to express their feelings and meet those needs.

 

Positive Behavior Guidance for infants and toddlers focuses on building secure relationships, teaching and reinforcing social and emotional skills, and providing children with safe, engaging environments and materials to explore. We provide warm, responsive interactions, clear and consistent routines, and developmentally appropriate expectations. Caregivers guide behavior by modeling gentle actions, labeling emotions, offering simple choices, and redirecting when needed rather than using punishment. By creating safe, predictable environments and acknowledging children’s efforts, adults help young children develop self-regulation, trust, and positive social skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.

 

One important thing to remember is that all behavior is communication, especially in infants and toddlers who are still developing language skills. When a baby cries, turns away, throws food, or clings tightly to a caregiver, they are expressing a need, feeling, or reaction to their environment. A toddler’s tantrum may communicate frustration, fatigue, hunger, or a desire for independence. By viewing behavior through a responsive, relationship-based lens, caregivers shift from asking “How do I stop this behavior?” to “What is this child trying to tell me?” When adults respond with empathy, observe patterns, and teach replacement skills (such as using simple words, gestures, or calming strategies), they help children feel understood and gradually build stronger communication and self-regulation skills.