Behavior Management
This first step in behavior management is calm, private, and quick.
What is quiet redirection?
If you are on your phone while supervising, you are not counted in this.
What is ratio?
Having materials available is not enough—this is what creates engagement.
What is intentional setup (or preparation)?
This type of communication is clear, calm, and appropriate for a child’s age.
What is age-appropriate communication?
Kids are bored and behavior is increasing—this is likely missing from your program.
What is engagement (or intentional setup)?
This R.U.L.E.S.S. expectation teaches children to solve problems using communication.
What is Use your words (U)?
This supervision style requires moving with purpose and scanning every 20–30 seconds.
What is roving?
These two types of programming balance structure and independence.
What are staff-led and child-led activities?
This type of humor should be avoided because children often misunderstand it.
What is sarcasm?
Leadership, Respect, Responsibility and Honesty
What are the 4 Core Values?
In a Reflection Chat, this first question builds self-awareness.
What is “What happened?”?
If you can’t see every child within a few seconds, you should do this.
What is move/reposition yourself?
This means creating clear areas with one purpose instead of cluttered spaces.
What are clear boundaries (one activity per center)?
These types of conversations (like relationships or personal life) should happen off the clock and away from youth.
What are personal conversations?
Christian principles put into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
What is the YMCA Mission?
This step allows a child to reset by changing activities or taking a break.
What is make a new choice?
These are the three things you constantly check: sightlines, safety cues, and this.
What are counts (headcounts/name-to-face checks)?
These help children know what to do at a center without staff direction.
What are prompts or visual instructions?
Instead of giving orders, you offer options like “Blocks or Art?”—this builds engagement and this.
What is choice (or ownership)?
This is the rule that prevents a staff member from being alone with a single child.
What is the Rule of 3?
This expectation requires children to stay close enough to be seen and heard by staff.
What is Stay in sight and sound (S)?
This is the highest-risk time when staff must “Stop → Count → Move → Count again.”
What are transitions?
This phrase means staff should be actively moving and engaging, not standing still.
What is teach from your feet?
Sharing information about other children or staff violates this professional expectation.
What is confidentiality?
You lose count of your group—your FIRST action should be this.
What is stop everything and recount?