Should we punish and reward children's behaviour?

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop:

Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees.

To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home

There is no 'bad' behaviour. Behaviour is only useful or not useful…Setting children up for success starts with understanding behaviour as communication. A balanced, trauma-informed approach prioritises emotional literacy, connection, and self-regulation through teaching and modelling, not rewards or punishments.

Read Samantha's article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/should-we-punish-and-reward-childrens-behaviour/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome!
02:15 – No such thing as bad behaviour
07:00 – Children are born good
08:30 – Judgement from others
11:30 – What is a 'balanced approach'?
17:00 – Why are rewards not helpful?
23:30 – Is timeout helpful?
28:00 – Up-regulatory and down-regulatory
25:00 – Preventative, responsive and restorative practices
37:30 – What if a child is hurting someone else?
40:00 – Physical safety and restraining
46:00 – Children learning to navigate risks
49:00 – Further reading and listening material

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to listen to more, take a look at the following episodes:

Matt Bawler – proactively promoting positive mental health – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/proactively-promoting-positive-mental-health/

Julie Robinson and Charlott Hannah's episode sponsored by Mini Minds Matter –

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/its-not-time-out-its-time-in-for-both-of-us/

Dr Mine Conkbayir's work on Co- & Self-regulation & mental health – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/self-regulation-co-regulation-and-mental-health/

And the Durham research project episode with Jill Jones and Rebecca Martin on Supporting regulation in the early years: A progressive approach – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/supporting-regulation-in-the-early-years-a-progressive-approach/

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com