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     My name is Catherine McCracken-Jones and I am a Certified Positive Discipline Parent and Classroom Educator and Trainer through the Positive Discipline Association.   My passion is teaching Positive Discipline to families and teachers.  I truly believe in the "ripple effect" in life wherein as we parent our children differently now, they in turn will parent their children differently and so on and so on.  Every generation can build on the respectful, loving, but firm parenting and relationship techniques that Positive Discipline brings us.

     Parenting is a tough job.  They send you home from the hospital with all these wonderful brochures on what to do with your infant yet nothing on what to do when your 3 year old has thrown the eggs all over the floor in the grocery store!  We go through so many emotions ourselves when our children misbehave that we tend to react in the moment instead of choosing how to parent in the moment.  The more we learn about the skills we may have hidden just under the surface, the more we can enjoy our children and the more peaceful, cooperative homes we signed up for in the first place with that sweet baby!

     Positive Discipline is a program designed to teach young people to become responsible, respectful and resourceful members of their communities. Based on the best selling Positive Discipline books by Dr. Jane Nelsen, Lynn Lott, Cheryl Erwin, Kate Ortolano, Mary Hughes, Mike Brock, Lisa Larson and others, it teaches important social and life skills in a manner that is deeply respectful and encouraging for the children, adults and the situation.

     We teach more than just tools.  We teach tools AND the belief behind their behaviors.  When we understand why our child is acting out, we can better use the correct tools. If you have LOTS of tools, it does you no good if you use a hammer on your plumbing, so we teach which tools work best for which misbehaviors and how to identify when it is time to change a tool. 

     Some people perceive Positive Discipline to be all "mushy" and that can't be farther from the truth!  We teach how to have boundaries and how to respectfully, kindly and firmly enforce those boundaries.  Some people have the kind part down and need work on the firm, and some people have the firm part down and need to work on the kind.  We are non-judgmental in where you are on the parenting scale.  We just want to help you and your family find the right balance for your home.  Even when parenting in the same lane, everyone's home is different with different values and rules, we strive to help you find what works best for you and your family.

     Positive Discipline is a long term parenting philosophy that teaches kids to feel "I am capable, I can contribute, and I can use my personal Power in useful ways to improve my life and the lives of others!"

FIVE CRITERIA FOR
EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE 


  1. Helps children feel a sense of connection. (Belonging and significance)

  2. Is mutually respectful and encouraging.  (Kind and firm at the same time.)
  3. Is effective long - term. (Considers what the child is thinking, feeling, learning, and deciding about himself and his world – and what to do in the future to survive or to thrive.)
  4. Teaches important social and life skills.  (Respect, concern for others, problem solving, and cooperation as well as the skills to contribute to the home, school or larger community.)
  5. Invites children to discover how capable they are.  (Encourages the constructive use of personal power and autonomy.)​

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE TOOLS


The Positive Discipline Parenting and Classroom Management models are aimed at developing mutually respectful relationships. Positive Discipline teaches adults to employ kindness and firmness at the same time, and is neither punitive nor permissive. The tools and concepts of Positive Discipline include:  
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  • Mutual respect.  Adults model firmness by respecting themselves and the needs of the situation, and kindness by respecting the needs of the child.
  • Identifying the belief behind the behavior. Effective discipline recognizes the reasons kids do what they do and works to change those beliefs, rather than merely attempting to change behavior.
  • Effective communication and  problem solving skills.
  • Discipline that teaches (and is neither permissive nor punitive).
  • Focusing on solutions instead of punishment.
  • Encouragement (instead of praise). Encouragement notices effort and improvement, not just success, and builds long-term self-esteem and empowerment.