The goal for each child shall be self-discipline so that the child can function in an appropriate manner whether or not an authority person is present.  Therefore, good behavior will be recognized and encouraged.  Limits will be set for using materials in the classroom and on the playground and for interacting with one another.  The rules will be fair and consistent.  The children will participate in making the rules for the group, thus making it easier to remember and follow them.  If a child chooses not to follow the rules, the teacher will remind him/her of the rules.  If discipline is necessary, it will be a natural and logical consequence of the behavior of the child.  The child may need to be removed from the activity for a short time so that s/he can regain inner control.  Children will not be subjected to cruel punishment or shaken or spanked.  Neither will they be humiliated nor spoken to in a derogatory or sarcastic manner.

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We follow the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Discipline and Guidance Policy.  Discipline must be:

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1. Individualized and consistent for each child

2. Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding and

3. Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.

 

A care giver may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control and self-direction, which include at least the following:

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1. Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior.

2. Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements;

3. Redirecting behavior using positive statements;  

4. Using brief supervised separation or time away from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.

 

There must be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited:

 

1. Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment

2. Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training

3. Pinching, shaking or biting a child

4. Hitting a child with a hand or instrument

5. Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth

6. Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child

7. Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language

8. Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom or closet with the door closed

9. Rough handling (shoving, pulling) grasping of any body part, forcing a child to sit, lie down, or stay down, except when restraint is necessary to protect the child or others from harm; physically forcing a child to perform an action such as eating or cleaning up.

10. Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age.

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*At St. Andrew’s we do not use “time out”.  In certain guidance situations, we may remove a child from an activity or group and redirect them to another area.