Today's lesson: redirection...what makes it work?

Buzz word alert: redirection! It's replaced the word "consequence" in most conversations concerning discipline, oh oops...I meant encouraging positive behavior. Due to current research, the field of child development has come up with several procedures termed "best practices," one of which is redirection. Redirection occurs when a there is a conflict between children or unwanted/undesired behavior from a particular child by giving the child two choices, and it often includes an element of distraction, just like any successful magic trick. Redirection is exactly what it sounds like an adult is redirecting the child's fixation towards something or someone else that will bring about desired behavior or a more positive environment or interaction. Redirection is not negotiation, but many well meaning supervising adults confuse the two. Example: 4 year old child in sandbox fights with another 4 year old child over awesome dump truck of which the school only has one. Negotiation - if you let him play with it first, then I'll let you have snack first for being so nice. Redirection - you two can decide how you want to use the truck together or I can put the truck away if you can't agree on how you can both use it and we can try again tomorrow. 99% of the time a mutually beneficial arrangement in reached without the adult having to even raise an eyebrow. Let's go younger...less verbal skills...maybe no verbal skills - toddlers fighting over a toy car: Negotiation - teacher says, "please can he have that? How about you have this one? Look how it's prettier and nicer than that one. Redirection: teacher creates some space between the two toddlers, maybe even faces them away from each other, and then takes one of the toddlers (either one) and enthusiastically says "oooo, look at this car!" Toddler takes car and goes to play leaving the other toddler to play with original toy. What makes redirection work so well? When there is a conflict or undesired behavior, it doesn't usurp the supervising adult's authority for the sake of a child's autonomy; it is authoritative, not authoritarian, which has been proven to yield positive relationships and socially and emotionally competent people; it respects all parties involved; and, it does not risk physical harm or send confusing messages like "if I'm bigger, then I'll get my way" or "once I'm bigger I get to make the rules and let the people I like get what they want and the people I don't like won't get anything." I can go on, but for now I won't. I'll write again about redirection in the home versus classroom next time. :)