What is Conscious Discipline?

Conscious Discipline® is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. Since 2004, Conscious Discipline® is a nationally acclaimed character education program. It is based on current brain research, child development information, and developmentally appropriate practices. Conscious Discipline® has been specifically designed to make changes in the lives of adults first. The adults, in turn, change the lives of children.

Conscious Discipline® is specifically designed to teach the following:
             - Anger management
             - Helpfulness (pro-social skills)
             - Assertiveness
             - Impulse Control
             - Cooperation
             - Empathy
             - Problem solving

Founded by Dr. Becky Bailey, internationally known teacher, researcher, author and presenter, Conscious Discipline® empowers teachers and parents with practical skills of self-management, building relationships and problem-solving so they can, in turn, empower children and others around them.

The Conscious Discipline® philosophy is easily transferred to the home and work environment as it increases the quality of relationships across the board. With the knowledge of this philosophy we learn the basics of the brain and how it affects behavior in children and adults. Dr. Becky Bailey, the author of Conscious Discipline®, originally designed the program for classrooms, but the Brain Smart strategies imparted by the Seven Powers for Self Control and the Seven Basic Skills of Discipline are seamlessly applied to all human interactions. She has since developed Conscious Discipline® for parents and Brain Smart strategies for businesses.

Conscious Discipline® is a way or organizing schools and classrooms around the concept of a School Family. Each member of the family—both adult and child—learns the skills needed to successfully manage life tasks such as learning, forming relationships, communicating effectively, being sensitive to others’ needs and getting along with others.

Conscious Discipline® empowers teachers and other adults with the Seven Powers for Self Control. These powers change the adults’ perception and relationship with conflict, empowering them to be proactive instead of reactive during conflict. These core beliefs strengthen our utilization of the frontal lobes of the brain. The frontal lobes are to the brain as a conductor is to an orchestra. The frontal lobes are our moral leader.

From the beliefs instilled with the Seven Powers for Self Control emerge the Seven Basic Skills of Discipline. These skills change how adults respond to conflict in such a way as to facilitate the development of the frontal lobes in children. The Seven Skills are the only skills an adult needs to constructively transform conflict into teaching moments. Through the Powers and Skills, adults stay in control of themselves and in charge of children.

As adults begin to change their attitudes and behaviors, so will the children in their care. We cannot teach behaviors and skills that we do not possess ourselves.