Michaela Child Psychology

Michaela is 5 year old Kindergarten student. She lives with both of her parents who are married. Michaela is an only child and does not have any limits at home. Michaela’s parents differ in their ideas of activities Michaela should be involved in (mom prefers dance and piano, and dad prefers soccer), how to discipline her, and where to set a limit on materialistic objects they purchase for her.
Michaela was a student who clearly went through some of the psychoeducational stages. She without a doubt had a honeymoon stage and had the entire staff fooled to believe that she was a very well behaved student. The stage that was most evident to me was stage two, limit testing. During carpet time, Michaela would sit at her assigned spot, but ever so slowly, move forward until I redirected her or until she was in the middle of the group. If I moved the pointer to the quiet level of out noise chart, Michaela would sing, quietly at first, and then louder until I redirected her. I have a very difficult time when students put objects in their mouths. After discussing the health reasons for not doing so, Michaela slowly, while making sure I did not watch her, chewed her pencil repeatedly. I believe Michaela was in the limit testing stage because she was easily redirected, and would stop her inappropriate …show more content…
It is a normal thing for kids to do as they develop. Testing limits is not a horrible action. There is an internal need for students to exercise free will and personal decision making. All situations are not the same and expecting students to follow all of the rules, all of the time, is unrealistic. Some teachers argue that to achieve behavioral compliance would be to have all teachers enforce all of the rules, all of the time. I disagree with that idea. I feel that being totally consistent is not only impossible, but it would make educators only responsible for enforcing, and taking all responsibility away from the