CDC Positive Guidance & Redirection 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is a characteristic of an authoritative guidance style?
- Setting strict rules with no explanation
- Providing warmth while setting clear, consistent boundaries (Correct answer)
- Allowing children to set all their own rules
- Ignoring misbehavior to avoid confrontation
Correct answer: Providing warmth while setting clear, consistent boundaries
Authoritative guidance balances warmth and responsiveness with firm, consistent limit-setting and explanation of rules.
Question 2: Why is it important to get down to a child's eye level when giving guidance?
- It shows authority and discipline
- It reduces intimidation and supports a respectful connection (Correct answer)
- It keeps the caregiver's back safe
- It prevents the child from running away
Correct answer: It reduces intimidation and supports a respectful connection
Being at eye level communicates respect, helps the child feel heard, and makes the interaction less threatening.
Question 3: A caregiver says 'Good job!' every time a child does anything at all. What is the likely outcome?
- The child will become more motivated
- Praise loses its meaning and children may become praise-dependent (Correct answer)
- The child will develop better self-regulation
- The child will learn to avoid mistakes
Correct answer: Praise loses its meaning and children may become praise-dependent
Generic, constant praise can reduce intrinsic motivation and make specific, meaningful praise less effective over time.
Question 4: Which type of praise is most effective for building a child's internal motivation?
- 'You're so smart!'
- 'Good boy/girl!'
- 'You worked hard to figure that puzzle out!' (Correct answer)
- 'You did it again, great!'
Correct answer: 'You worked hard to figure that puzzle out!'
Process-focused praise acknowledges the child's effort and strategy, building intrinsic motivation and resilience.
Question 5: A child grabs a toy from another child. The caregiver should FIRST:
- Tell the grabbing child to go to time-out
- Intervene calmly, name what happened, and guide both children (Correct answer)
- Let the children work it out on their own
- Take the toy away from both children
Correct answer: Intervene calmly, name what happened, and guide both children
Calm intervention followed by narrating what happened and coaching both children builds social skills and problem-solving.
Question 6: What is 'emotion coaching' in the context of positive guidance?
- Teaching children to hide their feelings
- Helping children identify, label, and manage their emotions (Correct answer)
- Correcting children every time they cry
- Rewarding children only when they are calm
Correct answer: Helping children identify, label, and manage their emotions
Emotion coaching involves helping children recognize and name their emotions as a foundation for self-regulation.
Question 7: Which scenario demonstrates the use of a visual schedule to support positive guidance?
- Posting class rules only where adults can read them
- Displaying picture cards showing the daily routine so children know what to expect (Correct answer)
- Using a timer to count down misbehavior time-outs
- Keeping schedules secret to prevent children from resisting transitions
Correct answer: Displaying picture cards showing the daily routine so children know what to expect
Visual schedules reduce anxiety and challenging behavior by giving children predictability and a sense of control over their day.
CDC Positive Guidance & Redirection 3
Which of the following is a characteristic of an authoritative guidance style?