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Guidance/Management

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The child care staff members assigned to supervise a child or group of children shall be responsible for their guidance and management in keeping with the policy established by the Center. Child training and guidance will be handled with kindness, consistency, and understanding in accordance with the individual needs of each age group and each child. Child guidance and management measures shall be developmentally appropriate for the child, shall be consistent, and shall be explained to the child.

The child care staff member shall:

1. Use developmentally appropriate techniques suitable to the children’s ages and relevant to the circumstances, such as, but not limited to: setting clear limits; redirecting the child to an appropriate activity; showing children positive alternatives; modeling the desired behavior; reinforcing appropriate behavior; and encouraging children to control their own behavior, cooperating with others.
2. Intervene, when needed, as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of all children.
3. When necessary, use developmentally appropriate separation from the situation which shall last no more than one minute for each year of age of the child and shall not be used with infants or toddlers under the age of two years. When the child is to return to the activity, child care staff members will review the reason for the separation and what behavior is expected.
4. Communicate and consult with parents/guardians prior to implementing any specific behavior management plan. This plan must be in writing and signed by the parent/guardian.

The staff will discuss the rules thoroughly with children and explain why it is necessary to have them. We do not want children to hurt themselves or others. We want them to learn to respect other people and their property. Through the language of support and positive reinforcement, expectations are made clear and behavior is reinforced when these expectations are fulfilled. Developmentally appropriate child guidance and management techniques are used at all times.

The purpose of guidance and management is to enable the child to develop inner controls and self-discipline. To help the child accomplish this, we use positive and supportive communication. Discerning right from wrong is a continual learning process. We want to approach child guidance and management with positive action so that there is reinforcement for acceptable behavior and a learning process taking place as a natural part of the child’s growth and development. With this in mind, these are the ways we guide and manage the children:

• Rather than focusing on negative outcomes, we encourage positive choices and interactions. By doing this, we help the child realize his/her accomplishments.
• We use redirection. This occurs when a teacher helps the child determine different ways to deal with situations. The children are encouraged to problem solve on their own so they can determine the best outcomes for themselves.
• Communication is an important part of guidance and discipline. We talk to a child when unacceptable behavior occurs to be sure he/she understands the rules and why they exist. We then encourage the child to communicate his/her feelings and why the choice was made. This enables the child to process the best way to handle the situation.
• If the unacceptable behavior continues, the child may be separated from the group in the classroom for a time out. Time outs are to be used sparingly and are not to be abused by the teacher. This can be an opportunity for a child to be removed from a situation so the teacher can communicate what has transpired. A time out should last no more than one minute per age of the child. It is hoped that this will encourage the child to understand the importance of acceptable behavior.

The use of active listening and discussion with the child is used to redirect the child to appropriate behaviors. When necessary the child is removed from the group either in the classroom or the office until the child is ready to return to the group. A child may lose a privilege if the misbehavior is extreme. Once the child is redirected, separated from the problem situation, talked to about the problem situation, and then praised for appropriate behavior, he/she is welcomed back to the group. If inappropriate behaviors persist, a plan of action will be devised and implemented by the Center Director, teacher, and parent/guardian. When children’s behavior is unacceptable, the child care staff members shall:

1. Use developmentally appropriate techniques suitable to the children’s ages and the circumstances
2. Use developmentally appropriate separation from the situation only as necessary
3. Communicate and consult with parents/guardians in implementing any specific behavior management plan

If a child is dangerous to himself/herself or to others in the class, a member of the administrative staff is to be notified at once. Inappropriate behavior reports are to be completed by the teacher and then signed by the Director. The report shall then be given to the parent/guardian of the child to be read and signed. A copy of the report shall remain on file at the Center. If the behavior continues, the parents may be notified to attend a conference with the Director in order to come to a satisfactory solution. In cases involving the chance of injury to another person or the destruction/vandalism of property, it may become necessary to suspend or dis-enroll a child from the Center either temporarily or permanently. Play & Learn provides a quality and safe environment with a large amount of equipment for the children. If a child causes significant damage to the property equipment, the parent/guardian will be held responsible for the cost of replacement or repairs.

All Center employees and child care staff members shall not:

1. Abuse, endanger, or neglect children
2. Utilize cruel, harsh, unusual, or extreme techniques
3. Utilize any form of corporal punishment
4. Delegate children to manage or discipline
5. Use physical restraints on a child
6. Restrain a child by any means other than holding children for a short period of time, such as in a protective hug, so that the children may regain control
7. Place children in a locked room or confine children in any enclosed area
8. Confine children to equipment such as cribs or high chairs
9. Humiliate, threaten, or frighten children
10. Subject children to profane language or verbal abuse
11. Make derogatory or sarcastic remarks about children or their families
12. Punish children for failure to eat or sleep or for toileting accidents
13. Withhold any food (including snacks and treats), rest, or toilet use
14. Punish an entire group of children due to the unacceptable behavior of one or a few
15. Isolate and restrict children from all activities for an extended period of time

Parents/Guardians of children in our Center should not use any guidance or management techniques with their children other than those described in this policy while their children are on Center property. Parents/Guardians are also not permitted to discipline other children at the Center. Parents/Guardians concerns should be directed toward the staff. The Center shall not abuse or neglect children and shall protect children from abuse and neglect while in the Center’s care. The specifications of this Guidance/Management Rule 5101:2-12-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code applies to all employees at the Center.

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