Head Start is a program for pre-school age children or in the lower elementary, be it daycare, nursery or kindergarten, usually, because the children are young, the aspect of discipline is important. Participating children are expected to behave with respect, kindness, and courtesy toward their peers and teachers. They are also impressionable and learning to control their emotions. Their parents handle discipline differently which differ from the disciplinary methods used in the Head Start program. The following are the ways to handle classroom discipline in the Head Start program:

1. Set rules and guidelines from the very beginning of the school year. Inform Children what is expected of them from the start. This is the best way to eliminate needless disciplinary actions in the future. Children that know what type of behavior is expected are less likely to break the rules.
2. Make the rules basic and simple. You have to remember that children have short attention span.
3. Practice patience. The first time a child breaks a rule, explain to him in a patient but firm tone that his behavior is unacceptable and that if he partakes in that type of behavior again there will be consequences so the child fully understands the importance of his wrongdoing.
4. Make parents aware of the rules. Parents and teachers should be on the same page when it comes to setting rules and boundaries for young children; expressing your disciplinary guidelines to parents helps keep future conflict to a minimum. Also, teachers should notify the parents for the disciplinary actions taken against their child. They also set up a meeting with parents to discuss a plan for handling the child persistent undesirable behavior.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Parents and teachers should work hand in hand in imparting knowledge and discipline among these youngsters and the best way is to serve as role models. Everything that they say or do will be the correct for these children as they only believe their parents and teachers as those who can be entrusted with their welfare. This discipline upbringing should take on early age of children and be given a constructive attention as based on studies misbehaved pupils are usually the discouraged children and products of irresponsible guidance.

By: MRS. GRACE S. PONCE | Teacher III | Culis Elementary School | Culis, Hermosa, Bataan