Louise Porter Apr 2026

Porter’s work focuses on moving away from "controlling discipline"—which she defines as the use of rewards, punishments, and praise to manipulate behavior—toward a system that respects children’s autonomy.

: Her philosophy is built on the belief that humans have evolved to be cooperative and that adults should trust children's rational motives. Professional Background Guiding Children's Behaviour with Dr Louise Porter [event] louise porter

: She views disruptive behavior as a rational attempt to meet an underlying need or as a result of a lack of skill, rather than willful defiance. Porter’s work focuses on moving away from "controlling

Dr. Louise Porter is an Australian and author with over 35 years of experience specializing in child development, behavior management, and gifted education. She is widely recognized for her "Guidance Approach" to discipline, which rejects traditional reward and punishment systems in favor of building strong, collaborative relationships with children. Core Philosophy: The Guidance Approach Core Philosophy: The Guidance Approach