At EA Schools in Ohio, our approach to education is based on our core philosophy of unconditional positive regard. Find out how we use this principle to create a nurturing, supportive school your child will be excited to attend every day.
If your child isn’t having a positive experience at their current school, it is easy to feel frustrated and stressed as a parent.
Children who struggle with behavioral challenges or need more emotional support often feel misunderstood by their teachers and peers if they aren’t in the right environment. This can take a significant toll on their happiness and long-term success.
At Education Alternatives in Ohio, our mission is to create an environment where your child can feel excited to go to school instead of dreading it.
We do this by incorporating examples of unconditional positive regard, our school’s guiding principle, into every aspect of our programs.
At EA, we believe every child deserves to learn in a place where they can explore, grow, and make mistakes without fear of judgment from teachers or peers.
That’s why we take an empathetic approach to your child’s education that emphasizes understanding and growth rather than punishment. This way, every child feels valued and respected, regardless of past experiences or challenges.
This blog will explore how we use different unconditional positive regard examples to give your child the best possible school experience and set them up for long-term success.
Keep reading to learn how our approach can help your child thrive emotionally and academically!
What is the definition of unconditional positive regard?
Before diving into how we use examples of unconditional positive regard in our alternative school, it is important to understand what this term actually means.
Unconditional positive regard is a concept developed by Carl Rogers, one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century.
According to the American Psychology Association, it is “an attitude of caring and acceptance that others express toward an individual irrespective of their behavior and without regard for other’s personal standards.”
In other words, unconditional positive regard means always showing each person support, kindness, and acceptance, no matter what they say or do.
While this idea sounds relatively simple, it can have a big impact on students and their experiences at school. That’s why we implement unconditional positive regard into every aspect of our programs across our eight schools in the greater Northeast Ohio area.
Keep reading to see how we use this philosophy to create an environment where students feel valued and empowered to reach their full potential.
What is unconditional positive regard in education?
At Education Alternatives, unconditional positive regard is more than just a concept.
It is our way of interacting with students to make sure that they feel valued and safe no matter what.
It means that we show consistent acceptance and support to our students regardless of any behavioral or emotional challenges that may arise throughout the day.
Through this approach, we aren’t ignoring mistakes or excusing negative behavior, but we are separating your child from their actions. By doing this, we can show our students that they are cared for as individuals, even when they struggle.
When we create an environment where students know they are safe and accepted, they express themselves more freely and become more engaged in school.
Over time, they develop stronger feelings of self-worth and a deeper sense of responsibility toward their actions and behaviors. By nurturing this strong sense of positive self-regard, or self-acceptance, we help our students grow emotionally and academically, putting them on a path toward success.
At Education Alternatives, we want our students to see school as more than just a place where they go to learn; it is a community where they are truly cared for.
Daily unconditional positive regard examples in our schools
Here are some examples of how unconditional positive regard is put into action every day to help our students with emotional or behavioral challenges flourish.
Daily Fresh Starts
In all of our alternative education programs, we teach our students that every day is a fresh start.
This means that even if a child has a difficult day filled with outbursts or negative behavior, they always have a chance to start fresh the next day. Anything that happened in the past will not be held against them.
After spending time in this environment, students discover it’s okay to make mistakes or have bad days because they will still be treated with respect and care.
Focusing on improvement, not just results
It is important to highlight the small wins and progress that students make on a regular basis during their time as students at Education Alternatives.
For our students who need more emotional or behavioral support, it is especially important to focus on the little victories they achieve along their way toward their bigger goals.
When we take the time to acknowledge our students’ progress, we help them:
- Boost their self-confidence and positive self-regard
- Stay motivated to progress toward their goals
- Reinforce positive behaviors
When students feel that their effort is seen and valued, they are more likely to make better choices when it comes to their behavior and emotional regulation.
We also make it a point to share your child’s positive progress with you, the parent.
Instead of only contacting you when there’s a problem, we share these small wins with you so that you can see and feel the same positive changes we observe daily.
Building healthy relationships
If students have been punished or shamed in traditional school environments due to behavioral or emotional challenges, it can be more difficult for them to trust adults or authority figures.
That’s why our teachers and staff are highly trained in therapeutic techniques to foster trust and create a supportive environment for all students. By taking the time to understand and attune to our students’ emotional needs, we foster relationships where your child will feel safe to express themself.
The positive relationships your child builds with our educators lay the foundation for healthy relationships with their peers and themselves.
Promoting positive self-regard for long-term success
Our main goal at Education Alternatives is to give your child the academic, social, and emotional support they need to succeed beyond their school years.
This means helping your child develop into a resilient adult who is confident in themself and takes responsibility for their actions.
We use unconditional positive regard to create an environment where students feel valued and accepted by their teachers and peers.
In doing this, we foster a strong sense of positive self-regard, helping students build the self-worth and confidence they need for long-term success.
Finding the right school for your child
If your child is struggling at their current school, it might be time to change their learning environment.
At Education Alternatives, we provide a nurturing environment where students with emotional and behavioral challenges feel valued and excited to learn.
Guided by our core philosophy of unconditional positive regard, we want to help your child:
- Build confidence and positive self-regard
- Achieve academic success
- Develop the resilience they need for a bright future
If this sounds like the kind of learning environment your child would thrive in, contact us today!
Our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have about any of our alternative education programs.
Did you find this article helpful? Check out our other blogs to learn more about alternative education and find valuable resources for your family!