In a preschool setting, using natural and logical consequences calls for a deliberate approach to discipline that supports young brains' development and comprehension.

You can mold responsible, compassionate, and socially conscious kids by knowing when to use each kind of consequence and adjusting it to the preschooler's developmental needs.

It's a fact that kids are always pushing boundaries. In addition, there may be moments when you feel helpless and unsure of how to discipline your kids. One useful strategy for putting an end to disruptive behavior and instilling responsibility in the classroom is the use of logical consequences.

This post will explain how to utilize logical consequences in the classroom, how to teach kids about consequences, and how they can quit difficult conduct. 

1. What are the logical consequences?

The results that a child's actions naturally bring about are known as natural consequences. They come about as a direct result of the decisions the child makes, as opposed to being forced by an authoritative person.

According to Parenting Now, children may learn a lot from natural consequences, which happen without the intervention of adults. These lessons include cause and effect and how to connect their actions with consequences.

Preschoolers can learn a great deal about responsibility, cause and effect, and decision-making through natural consequences.

As a kid faces a consequence, the Positive Discipline program advises demonstrating empathy and compassion for their situation by saying something like, "I bet it was difficult to lose your bicycle." 

Teachers and parents utilize the logical consequences method of discipline to help kids own up to their hard conduct so they can make corrections and learn from it while still keeping their dignity.

This method was created by American psychiatrist and educator Rudolf Dreikurs, who was born in Austria, to assist parents and teachers in identifying the root cause of challenging behavior in children and promoting cooperative behavior. "Reckoning reasonable results that follow behavior either desirable or non-desirable" is how Dreikurs defined logical consequences. He derived this definition from Alfred Adler's psychology method. Encouragement, according to Adler and Dreikur, is essential for fostering better behavior and interpersonal connections.

Logical consequences are determined by an adult, as opposed to natural consequences, which happen on their own. For instance, a toddler will inevitably fall if they run too quickly. In contrast, it makes sense that if a child doodles on the wall, their instructor would tell them to clean up their drawings. To encourage particular actions, teachers might utilize logical consequences in the classroom or combine them with other tactics like behavior charts.

Logical consequences are meant to promote good behavior rather than inflict punishment. Teachers need to keep in mind these three R’s in order to implement this strategy effectively: 

1. Related:

The act and the consequences need to be directly connected. For instance, it is not appropriate to ask a youngster to sit in the "naughty corner" if they doodle on the wall. The teacher needs to tell them to erase the drawing instead. The child understands behavioral expectations when there are associated consequences.

2. Reasonable:

In addition, the penalty ought to be equitable and age-appropriate. For instance, it wouldn't make sense to put Hailey in the "naughty corner" if she had taken a doll from Diane. Rather, the instructor has to support Hailey in returning the doll to Diane and offering an apology. Severe punishments will make the child resentful.

3. Respectful:

The youngster cannot be shamed or held responsible as part of the penalty. The instructor must be sympathetic and use a polite tone when explaining and enforcing the consequences. This will assist the child in realizing that appropriate behavior is encouraged rather than punished. For instance, when Liam tries to grab the instructor's attention and speaks harshly, the teacher can calmly remark, "Liam, I would like to help you, but only if you speak politely," and then carry on with their work until Liam changes his behavior.

2. When Not to Use Natural Consequences?

Although natural consequences are effective teaching tools, there are some circumstances in which they may not be suitable. Do not use the law of natural consequences when

• Safety is jeopardized: Waiting for a natural outcome is not an option if there is a risk of harm to the kid or others. Immediate intervention is required.
• The natural consequence is too severe: It could be better to look into reasonable alternatives if the natural result is too severe for the child's age or emotional development. 

3. Consequence vs punishment:

A consequence is what happens as a result of something. It might be a natural outcome; for instance, a toddler who refuses to wear a jacket may experience feelings of coldness. Alternatively, it could be a reasonable repercussion, like an adult forcing a child to apologize after assaulting another child. Consequences are meant to teach a youngsters how to make good decisions and to help them accept responsibility. Moreover, consequences aid in their self-control development.

On the other hand, punishment is an unpleasant or unwanted consequence that a person in a position of power imposes in order to cause hurt, fear, or loss. To keep control, punishment is usually meted out furiously. It can also be used to instill guilt, humiliation, and authority. Children who get harsh verbal criticism are frequently spanked, made to sit in a corner with their back to the wall, and other common punishments.

While punishment may temporarily put an end to misbehavior, it won't teach a youngster to accept responsibility for their actions or learn from them. Punishment usually doesn't work because it makes a youngster feel angry and resentful, emotionally distances them, and reinforces their bad self-perception. Dreikurs thought that using punishment as a form of discipline was futile. He thought it was disrespectful and dehumanizing and assumed the teacher was taking retribution by demonstrating to their kids who is superior.

4. Examples of Consequences for Preschoolers:

To help you better understand, let's talk about the various kinds of logical consequences.

1. "You fix it when you break it"

This kind of punishment is ideal for instilling in kids the idea that they should always accept accountability for their acts, deliberate or not. They discover that they have to take care of whatever issues they cause. For example, the instructor can ask a child to apologize and assist in cleaning up if they unintentionally knock over another child's food.

2. Loss of entitlement

When a child disobeys a classroom rule, this is the result. Classroom rules are predetermined standards that the teacher establishes with the help of the students. A youngster who disobeys or disregards the rules may lose a privilege that is directly linked to their actions. For instance, the instructor can tell a child to switch to a different outdoor toy for the remainder of recess if they are playing on one dangerously. Alternatively, a youngster forfeits the right to use scissors for the remainder of the art period if they wave around the supplies during art class.

3. Positive time-outs or "get away from it"

This outcome encourages efficient classroom management. To stop a temper tantrum or emotional outburst from getting worse and disrupting the class, a teacher might take the child out of the scenario when they see it coming. In order to help the youngster relax and regain composure, the teacher may place them in a quiet section of the classroom. The kids can come back when they're ready to engage in constructive interaction.

It is imperative to clarify to the students that a good time-out is beneficial and provides everyone with the necessary space to de-stress. For instance, the teacher may send a child to the positive time-out area for one to two minutes to calm down if they continue to fight angrily with them despite being requested to stop.

Without a trustworthy instrument, monitoring a child's development with rational consequences might take a lot of time. With Brightwheel's daily activity report tool, you can keep track of milestones and activities and send updates to families. Teachers can record events for several kids at once straight from the app, which saves time and fosters strong relationships with families.

Also Read: How To control kids In a Daycare? 

5. Logical consequences in the classroom

When a child misbehaves, a teacher needs to be composed enough to respond with appropriate, reasonable, and courteous punishments. If simple cues aren't working for a child who disobeys the rules, teachers can employ logical consequences. The majority of educators will discover that employing logical consequences in the classroom works best when a student:

• Answers questions without waiting for a turn
• Makes fun of a different child
• Talks or whispers to the youngster next to them nonstop while the teacher is giving a lesson
• Continues to speak disruptively to the instructor
• Uses tools (like scissors and pencils) carelessly rather than applying the correct technique
• Continually sways in their chair or leans far back in it
• Plays dangerously outside, such as by playing on a slide the incorrect direction or carelessly striking a baseball bat
• Purposefully pushes a different child
• Knocks over items or baggage that a different youngster is carrying or holding, such as food, crayons, or a bag. 

Children usually grasp verbal justifications and explanations by the age of three, which indicates that they have the mental capacity to comprehend logical conclusions. Precursors like "why-because," "might," and "before and after" can be taught to young children to aid in their understanding of the notion of consequences:

1. Why-because:

This idea gets kids thinking and helps them connect the dots between two acts. Modeling is the most effective method for teaching it. You can accomplish this by asking your students to question "why" after you make a statement. After that, you can reply and provide a rationale that begins with "because." Saying "I like coming to school every morning" is one example. When kids ask "Why," you say, "Because I get to see you all," in response.

2. Might:

Children are taught the sense of potential by this idea because you can never predict what will happen. You could ask your students to think about questions like, "How might Ryan react if you lost a toy he gave you?"

3. Before and after:

Ask your students to choose which of two sequential activities comes first. For instance, "When it's cold outside, do you go outside or put on your jacket first?"

Children find it simpler to comprehend the repercussions of their acts after they have a rudimentary understanding of consequences, particularly when those effects are closely tied to the activity.

6. Teach good behavior using logical consequences

Reasonable repercussions are an effective instrument for teaching kids responsibility and encouraging development. You may help kids think more critically and make better decisions by drawing a straight line between their conduct and the repercussions of their choices. By placing more emphasis on education and personal growth than on punishment, this strategy fosters an atmosphere that encourages responsibility, empathy, and problem-solving.

The long-term advantages of employing logical consequences far surpass the immediate convenience of adopting conventional disciplinary measures, even though it would need persistence and patience. Accepting reasonable consequences can help you create a polite, happy atmosphere where kids can develop into responsible adults.

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