How it Works

We have three simple rules at Enlightened Play Preschools.

We ask all children to be

1) Safe

2) Kind

3) Clean.

That’s Enlightened Discipline. That’s all.

What we have realized is that every behavior – in all people – that is undesirable will fall into one of these three categories. So, gone are the terms naughty, bad or mean, even right or wrong. We walk inside because it’s safe. We flush and wash after toileting because it’s clean. We help our friends because it’s kind.

But anchoring us, as the bedrock of Enlightened Discipline are the practices of Natural and Logical Consequences. Natural and Logical Consequences teach children to respect others, the environment, themselves and to be accountable for their own behavior. They teach children that even when an action has been unfavorable, they have the power to make amends to correct this action with their own behavior.

When children act outside of our core values, (safe, kind, and clean) teachers will remind or assist them in correcting their behavior through Logical Consequence practices. Their correction is specifically related to what action. If they spilled, they wipe it up. If they break something, they try to mend it or are aware and responsible to throw it away. If they hurt someone, they are taught how they can assist in that person’s care: hugs, Kleenex, an ice pack on an injury are some common treatments of children by children.

Saying “no” to time outs

One thing you will not see at Enlightened Play Preschools and is not a Logical Consequence is the use of “time outs” as a discipline technique. Not only are time-outs very difficult to enforce, but they also take the power and learning away from the child and give it to the adult.

The combination of Logical Consequences and Enlightened Discipline is part of what makes Enlightened Play Preschools so special. Children naturally understand and pick up the use of these words and values. It’s amazing how quickly they are able to identify and correct their own behavior.

And there you have it.

How it works. Ta-Da!

(For more on this topic read “Calling Time Out on Time Outs” – resource guide.)

Learn more about Enlightened Discipline

Author Julie Jenkins insists that we say goodbye to the naughty mat and call “time out” on timeouts. Leave all those old-school techniques behind. This is the manual for teaching the foundations on self-discipline, common sense and self-respect to young children. Written for every teacher in the early childhood field and every parent with young children.

GET THE BOOK

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Meet Julie

Julie Jenkins devoted 30+ years to up leveling the way adults teach children about behavior. She put her philosophy into print in 2004 in Enlightened Discipline.

Purchase Julie's book Enlightened Discipline

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703 West Acre Rd,
West Sacramento, CA 95691
916-371-3301

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