This policy is provided to all parents who enroll children in this center as well as to all staff, substitutes and volunteers who work with and are involved with he Sunshine Christian Child Care Center.
Our facility was established for the purpose of providing high quality childcare in a safe, nurturing, educational, and family oriented environment. The principles behind our discipline policy are:
- Training up a child in the way he should go, because when he is old, he will not depart from it (Prov 22:6)
- Delicately bringing up a child and correcting in love, so that the child might succeed in reaching his/her highest potential in life.
- Discipline is the combined effort of the family and the center staff who must cooperate and maintain good and open communication on matters relating to the children.
The Sunshine Christian Child Care Center Discipline Practices
- Children learn by examples. Therefore adults must serve as good role models and must model acceptable behavior by using polite language in mild voices at all times. Adults must develop positive relationships with children by expressing interest in each child and his activities.
- Encouragement and praise is the basis of the discipline policy of the center.
- Staff will ignore inappropriate behavior when the behavior can be tolerated.
- When a child misbehaves, staff will talk with the child quietly to explain why the behavior was wrong. An example of appropriate behavior will be given. Limits will be consistent and firm. The rules will not change from day to day.
- If a child continues to display the inappropriate behavior after all possible behavior management techniques have been exhausted, “Time Out” will be used. TSCCC believes that at times students who have behavior problems need a period of time during which they are separated by some physical space in the room. Physical separation from others may help a child gain control as well as reduce the reinforcement that is gotten from other students. It is not a time to enter into a contest of wills with the child.
- “Time Out” will be used with children who are at least two years and older. If “time out” is not appropriate for the younger child, he will be removed from the situation.
- During “time out”, the child will be seated in a chair apart from the group but not out of sight of the staff. The length of time that a child is required to sit in time out depends on his age – 3 years-olds, three minutes, 4 year-olds, four minutes. Staff must explain to the child why he is being required to sit in time out.
- Staff must always make clear to a child that it is the child’s behavior that is wrong. No child will be called bad or made to feel bad about him/herself.
- If a child persists in the inappropriate behavior, staff will confer with the Director of the center and parents(s) to discuss a plan of action.
Disciplinary Practices Not Used In This Center
- The licensee, staff, volunteers, substitutes or any other individuals connected with this center will not subject any child to injurious treatment. Corporal punishment or physical discipline will not be used. This includes but is not limited to tapping, slapping, spanking, hitting or shaking of children.
- A child will not be subjected to verbal abuse, such as shouting, cursing, shaming, or ridiculing. Discipline methods, which create undue discomfort, will not be used. A child will not be isolated out of sight of staff.
- No child in this center will be forced to eat. No child will be punished for not eating. Meals or snacks will not be withheld as a punishment.
- Vigorous outdoor play is a necessary activity to ensure the health and well being of children. Children will not be deprived of outdoor play as punishment.
