princemuncher: Let me elaborate.
The same conditioned response works with reward as well. Do good and get a hug, treat or gold star. They do it in schools.
It encourages the child to keep doing well.
Prince I thought you released I was a pre school teacher (reception, nursery, kindergarten)
We have five golden rules.....
1. Keep your hands and feet to yourself
2. Look after our books and toys
3. Speak to others they way we want to be spoken to
4. We do not run or shout out
5. We always try to do our best
Children have time out if they need it to think about what they did and was it a kind/not kind thing to do. Clever or silly.
Each week a child is picked to sit on the special magic golden chair for the whole week because they have accomplished something that was great for them...they have a photo taken and mounted on a certificate to take home to show everyone their achievement. Each child sits on that chair at least once in the Academic year.
They also get cert's for doing things well etc. Stickers always work well and are often used as a bridery...he,he!
I hug the children of this age and make sure they know they are all valued individuals in the class but there are guidelines and actions can be taken wrongly.
TLC works wonders on children of this age and they are like little sponges eager to learn, achieve and please.