Positive Intent is the 5th priciple of "Conscious Discipline", by Dr. Becky Bailey. The premise of Positive Intent is
What we say to children becomes their inner speech for the rest of their lives and thoughts physically change the cells in our bodies. So…
"If we’re going to make it up, we might as well make it positive."
– Dr. Becky Bailey
How Do we apply this?
When we see the best in our children it helps improve their self image and build trust. We demonstrate this by remaining calm and taking the opportunity to turn a negative behavior (teachable moment) into a learning opportunity.
Dr. Bailey proposes the following language when our children have teachable moments.
"You wanted _______ . You may not _______. When you want __________, say __________.
Works Cited
Bailey, Becky, PH.D. (2001) Conscious Discipline. Oviedo, FL: Loving Guidance, Inc.
Jensen, E. (1997) Completing the Puzzle: The Brain-Compatible Approach to Learning. Del Mar, CA: The Brain Store, Inc.