D/P,
In the changing world of urbanization, mechanization and civilization, it is inevitable that parents, child care givers, teachers and all the adult world understand how to offer positive guidance to children in order to help them become "human and humane".
Guidance includes all that an adult deliberately says or does, either directly or indirectly, to influence the behaviour of the child appropriately. The goal of all guidance is to help children to become happy and healthy individuals who can make decisions and achieve self direction.Basically, there are three types of direct guidance as follows:

Physical guidance includes touching, leading, demonstrating, playing and the like. Verbal guidance entails techniques for communicating with younger children through vocalization. Affective guidance includes techniques in the realm of feeling and emotion.

Verbal Guidance

The following are the means of verbal guidance:

• Speak to the child using eye-to-eye contact.
• Use positive instructions telling the child what to do instead of what not to do.
• Listen carefully when the child expresses and communicates his feelings, ideas, concepts and questions.
• Use simple and short sentences.
• Give the child directions when they are required and wherever they are needed.
• Offer only directions that the child really needs and avoid being over directive and dominant.
• Give preferably only one or two directions at a time.
• Emphasise the action part of your direction straight away.
• Under all circumstances, make it clear whether the child has a choice or not.
• Give logical and accurate reasons for requests.
• State limits or rules clearly and follow through on enforcing them.
• Praise the child for tasks or acts well done.
• Set personal goals for the child to achieve.
• Anticipate conditions that might interfere with the child's behaviour and suggest alternatives.
• Motivate the child to rise up to your expectations.
• Give up comparing the child with other children.

Affective Guidance

Affective guidance is part of all the techniques enlisted so far. It might include the following features:

• Show spontaneous and positive regard for the child.
• Pay attention to the child's needs and wants before he demands it.
• Give positive appreciation or feedback for occasions when the child adheres to your guidance.
• Get to know the child better especially if you find yourself feeling negatively towards the child.
• Provide affective guidance as much as possible as it helps develop the child's positive self concept.

Physical Guidance

The core of physical guidance includes the following ways:

• Lead the children by the hand to give direction, reassurance or assistance.
• Get down to eye level and use meaningful gestures.
• Use body language to help the child feel competent and comfortable.
• Remove the child from an inconducive atmosphere.
• Restrain the child, where necessary, to protect the child or others or both.
• Demonstrate the desired behaviour or skill for the child to emulate.
• Give help based on the individual child's need.

Thus direct guidance covers all of the interpersonal and interactional communication processes. With continued observation and practice, adults help young children grow in independence, self direction and in developing their potential fully and satisfactorily.

Have you now identified why some guidance approaches work and others do not?