Free · Certificate included

Positive Behavior Guidance & De-escalation

Set clear limits with warmth, reinforce the good, and calm conflict before it escalates.

50 min Beginner 7 modules Pass 80%

For: Volunteers and staff who work with children and youth

What you’ll learn

Guide behavior to teach skills — not just to stop or punish
Prevent most problems with clear expectations, routines, and engagement
Reinforce the behavior you want with specific praise and positive attention
Set limits with warmth, redirect, and use logical (not punitive) consequences
De-escalate a conflict calmly and repair the relationship afterward

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Course outline

1
Guidance, not punishment
The word “discipline” comes from a root meaning to teach — not to punish.
5 min Quiz
2
Prevention: set kids up to succeed
Most challenging behavior is prevented before it starts.
7 min Quiz Interactive
3
Catch them being good
Kids repeat what gets them attention. Too often, the only time a child gets noticed is when they misbehave — which accidentally rewards the behavior we don’t want.…
6 min Quiz Interactive
4
Setting limits with warmth
Kids need limits — they feel safer with them.
6 min Video Quiz Interactive
5
Redirection & logical consequences
When a behavior needs to change, your first tool is redirection — guide the child toward something acceptable before things escalate.
6 min Quiz Interactive
6
De-escalating a conflict
Sometimes a child escalates anyway. Big emotions follow a predictable escalation cycle — and your best chance to help is early, before the peak. Once a child is at…
6 min Quiz Interactive
7
Repair, consistency & staying calm
What happens after a hard moment matters as much as the moment itself.
4 min Quiz Interactive

Sources & further reading

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