PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CAPABLES® SYSTEM
The primary objectives of The Early Childhood Capables GREATT Learning System™ are to
(1) develop children’s awareness and communication regarding their own emotions, as well as reading the emotions of others’
(2) help a child develop self-control so they can handle aggressive, angry and frustrated feelings in a thoughtful way that aids them in choosing wise and balanced behavior;
(3) Promote Emotional Competence. The more emotionally competent a child feels, the more positive esteem they have for them and their peers, and the better they manage relationships with authority figures and peers;
(4) develop children’s problem-solving skills by fostering the integration of their self-control, feelings recognition, and communication skills; and
(5) create a positive home environment or classroom atmosphere that supports social-emotional learning
(6) strengthen bonds and trust with family members; parents, siblings, etc.
The Early Childhood Capables GREATT Learning System™ is designed to help parents, teachers, and other care-givers create an environment that promotes children’s learning of social-emotional skills, delayed gratification, contribution and sacrifice, as well as attitude control. The system provides guidelines on how to increase children’s learning during natural situations called teachable moments.
Our most teachable moments are moments where children experience an emotional reaction or a problem that requires THEY make a choice or decision. Whether the children chooses positively or negatively, these moments allow parents or teachers to positively reinforce a child’s behavior,
OR
positively align with a child to support them as they suffer and grow from, the natural consequences of their negative choice or behavior.
The Early Childhood Capables GREATT Learning System™ helps parents to follow through with pre-established natural consequences. This is not always easy for a parent to do. But, each time they are consistent with following through with a natural consequence they help to fortify and strengthen the resourcefulness, character and resolve of their child.
The Early Childhood Capables GREATT Learning System™ helps children accept consequences they have previously agreed to. Being accountable and accepting responsibility for their choices helps children develop self-responsibility, and removes parents from the role of “punisher” and allows them to be much more of a support for their children as their children face the predetermined and natural consequences of their choices.
Supporting your child does not mean that you coddle them or feel sorry for them. It means that you stand tall with them, side by side, as they face, with courage and determination, whatever consequences are most appropriate in any given situation. In this way your children learn they can count on you to be consistent, and to keep your word, and to follow through. These are important character qualities that when woven together form a dedicated love.
As you stand with them as they suffer the appropriate consequences, you learn that your children can be courageous, responsible and strong as they forge themselves through the consequences of their choices into hardy, resourceful individuals. This is the real gift of disciplining and strengthening your children.

