Childcare settings using Conscious Discipline strategies show a reduction in the incidence of aggressive acts in young children in an action research paper that explores both methods and results.
Zastrow, K. (n.d.) Action research. Unpublished research.
Intro Brief:
In this article, an early childhood special education teacher chronicles her training process, and conducts child observations and teacher surveys before and after Conscious Discipline training. After training there were fewer recorded acts of aggression, with zero instances of hitting or throwing. Teachers also reported greater agreement with the statement “when our children misbehave, I feel confident in knowing what to do.”
Type of Report: Independent research project, descriptive non-experimental pre-/post-test
Summary:
Study Design
A Green Bay, WI childcare center was trained in Conscious Discipline in two workshops held four months apart. Ongoing training was provided through implementation during circle time (30 minutes, twice a week for seven months), shared printed material and monthly reflective luncheon discussions.
Teachers completed pre- and post-surveys about attitudes and frequency of child behaviors. Child observations focusing on acts of physical aggression were conducted in September and April during circle time, indoor center time and outdoor playtime. In addition, the author regularly logged information about the perceived effectiveness of Conscious Discipline throughout the training months, discussed classroom interactions with staff and conducted closing interviews with select staff.
Results
There were fewer acts of aggression at post-test than at pre-test, with zero instances of hitting or throwing at post-test. For most survey questions, there was no change in provider responses from pre- to post-test. However, post-test staff reported greater agreement with the statement “when our children misbehave, I feel confident in knowing what to do.” Additionally, fewer staff agreed with the statement “children who misbehave should be punished.”
Julie Ruffo
Julie Ruffo hails from the Washington, D.C. area and holds a degree in Corporate Media from James Madison University. She’s enjoyed an evolving role with Conscious Discipline since 1999, including contractor, Creative Director, Director of Publishing and Product Development, and Brand Manager. Julie is a steadfast behind-the-scenes force in the authoring, product development, messaging, and mission of Conscious Discipline. When she’s not glued to her laptop, she can be found with her toes in the sand of the Outer Banks, experimenting in the kitchen, screaming on a roller coaster, or planning the next family adventure.
