The Purple Philosophy: Compliance
Compliance. Sounds like a good thing, right? Of course, we have to comply with laws and do what Mom tells us to do. But we do it because we understand the why we are doing it. There is a bigger picture and natural consequences if we don't. But compliance can be a bad thing in context to intervention with social, emotional and cognitive development. When you are compliant, you are just DOING. You are not an active participant in discovery, in relating, in communicating, in solving problems, etc. Compliance REMOVES THINKING about how to respond emotionally and dynamically. Compliance in intervention should be reserved for safety and order. Instead, teach empathy, perspective taking, and flexibility so they can see why they should not disrupt others, finish an assignment or repair damage done. Most importantly, give them a voice to say "NO". That's why we practice it so much as toddlers! Because we should refuse somethings, sometimes, as individuals with...
