Guidance is what parents do before they have a problem. This is part of being a proactive parent. Guidance techniques will help prevent a problem with a child before the child loses self-control or makes a bad decision. While self-control will emerge during early childhood years, children depend on parents and preschool teachers to help them maintain control.

Parents often repeat the plea to share when children are playing together. The intent of the request is for children to be able to get along together. It requires that they wait, delay their own gratification, and give a treasured item to another child.