Disciplining youth

My own, Scripturally. Those in my church, through their parents.

 

With our youth group it varies. Most of the guys I can go one on one with and the problem is resolved. We've got one kid who just craves attention so bad he acts out, so i tend to "tomato stake" him (I like that term ).

With the girls, we have to use isolation (put them apart from the other girls, sometimes all the kids).

I haven't had to go to their parents yet. I am hoping I don't have to.

 

This is our Official Policy at Church for all children workers

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY - "Discipline in the Classroom"

B. Corrective
1. Pray and ask the Lord for direction.
2. Discipline the action, not the child.
3. Try to be aware of as much as possible. (It's easy to miss the cause and see the effect.)
4. Reinforce love after discipline - the child will have a certain amount of fear that you don't
love them anymore. You need to reassure the child that you do, throughout the whole
process, and especially after the discipline measure is done.
5. Discipline privately; compliment publicly. Don't let the discipline ever publicly embarrass
the child. Always deal with the child privately. Don't make an example out of the child.
6. NEVER YELL AT A CHILD.
7. Know all the facts. Before disciplining, calmly and objectively gather all the relevant facts.
Listen to the child. Don't jump to conclusions; you might punish the wrong child.
8. Don't overreact. (Psalm 6:1)
9. A time of silence with heads on desks.
10. Minimize class disruptions.
a. Continue to talk and conduct class while moving among the students.
b. Pausing at the desk or placing one's hand at the desk of the disrupting student.
c. Removing the object of disruption (e.g. pencil tapping, paper wrinkling ) silently while
continuing with class.
d. Ask the child to put the toy (e.g. stuffed animal, doll, toy car or plane ) away so that
others are not distracted. If the child does not, volunteer to hold on to it until the
end of class.
e. Try a pause during class or a gentle "shhhh."
f. Call the child by name and shake your head.
g. Warn the child that if you need to speak to him/her again, you will separate him/her
from their friends.
h. Separate child to another desk/table/chair.
i. Ask child to sit in a chair in the back.
j. Child should always be assured that the teacher loves and cares for him/her, but that
the disruptive behavior is not fair to the other children or to the teacher.
k. Assure the child that you (the teacher) enjoys having him/her in class, but you that
you need his/her cooperation.
l. Ask the child if he/she is ready to rejoin the class.
m. If the child cries, ask them to give you a hug and reassure him/her.
n. Take care of the little things and the big things rarely happen.