In short, indirect guidance is what happens long before the rules are broken. It is an ongoing, everyday commitment to children's physical and psychological well-being. It is about what we as adults do and say, how we set expectations and how we give children choices and hold them accountable for those choices. It is how we care for, love and nurture our children. As adults responsible for children, we must help them understand their inappropriate behaviours and assist them in choosing better ones.
Direct guidance encompasses all parts of the interpersonal communication process.
We know that discipline is an integral part of development. We work diligently to assist children to develop a healthy self-concept and a sense of moral autonomy. It is important to note that this will not happen if we persist in telling them what to do. It will only happen if we help them learn from their inappropriate behaviours and assist them in making new, more appropriate choices as the need arises. Modelling Don't underestimate the power of modelling, especially if you are important to the child.