Concepts (Misbehavior)
Yellow zone
Behavior in the yellow zone is cautionary. The child’s behavior is marginally unacceptable and considered a “conventional misbehavior.” A “convention” is a similar to manners and propriety. For example, a preschooler may belch at the dinner table, play with her food, or talk loudly in church. Behavior in the yellow zone may bother some parents more than others. It may be permissible in some situations and with some ages and not others.

These zones are not really distinct categories. There is a continuum from green to red. Some yellow-zone behavior is closer to being red than others. With red-zone behavior the internal alarm you have sounds louder. Yellow-zone behavior can be embarrassing in public but certainly not deserving of consequences. Red-zone behavior is essentially immoral. The distinction can be difficult. For example, is the behavior of an 8 year old picking his nose in public in the yellow or red zone?

Our response to yellow zone misbehavior involves the selection of prevention and guidance tools. Our focus is on a child’s civility. The use of consequences tools is reserved for the red zone.

Healthy children test limits by misbehaving

Next: Red zone