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Central Valley Child Care
CHILD BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE PLAN
Central Valley Child Care believes that all children should experience success. We strive for a classroom setting that provides children with opportunities to explore their environment within consistent, age-appropriate limits; in such an atmosphere, most behavioral issues are prevented.
However, if behavioral issues occur, our philosophy is to help children learn human values, problem solving skills and to take responsibility for their own choices. By using the following progressive guidance techniques, we strive to minimize inappropriate behavior while creating a positive environment for all of our children:
I. Classroom Management
Our teachers will manage individual classrooms by:
• Modeling and reinforcing appropriate behavior
• Maintaining consistent supervision
• Setting reasonable expectations for children’s behavior based on their developmental levels and individual differences
• Becoming familiar with an individual child’s special needs
• Providing interesting, challenging, age-appropriate activities to do
II. Ignoring
Some negative behavior is exhibited by a child to seek attention; however, it can be stopped when it does not get the attention desired. We will utilize this technique unless a safety issue is involved.
III. Redirection / Distraction
We will offer alternatives to children engaged in undesirable behavior by offering a different toy, suggesting a new activity, engaging the child in an activity with a teacher or another child, or by suggesting independent play.
IV. Verbal Intervention
The teacher explains to the child the inappropriate behavior, and shows him/her the appropriate way to handle the situation. For example, a teacher might say, “instead of hitting Sarah, say, ‘I am angry because you took my truck’”.
V. Logical Consequences
Here, the teacher helps the child understand the logical consequences of his/her actions by removing an object, activity, etc. that is causing the problem. For example, if a child uses blocks to hit other children, the consequence is to remove the blocks from the child and to check and make sure the other child is alright. If the other child has to sit out for a while until they are okay, the child who hurt them will sit out also.
VI. Take a Break
The child is separated from the group, to allow him/her to relax and calm down, and to enable him/her to not be influenced by peers. The process used for "Take a Break" is:
• The child is assisted to an area in the room where he/she can be supervised at all times. The child will have access to activities and materials while in "Take a Break".
• If "Take a Break" occurs two or more time in one day, parents will be notified when the child is picked up at the end of the day.
• The child may return to the group as soon as the negative behavior stops or is significantly reduced.
• "Take a Break" will not be used for children under the age of 18 months; instead, redirection or distraction techniques will be used.
• If "Take a Break" is not working effectively; the Persistent Inappropriate Behavior Procedure will be instituted.
GUIDELINES FOR PERSISTENT INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Persistent inappropriate behavior is any inappropriate behavior which continues after the progressive guidance steps have been used; any behavior which threatens the health or safety of other children or staff; or a continuous inability to follow the rules and guidelines of our program.
Central Valley Child Care, Inc. will use the following progressive procedures:
1. We will observe and record the child’s inappropriate behavior
2. We will document what we have done to try to change the behavior.
3. If inappropriate behavior continues, parents will be asked to participate in an immediate parent-teacher conference. A specific action plan will be developed at this conference to address the behavior. The action plan will outline all steps the staff will take to change the behavior, all steps the parents will take, and all steps toward disenrollment if the behavior persists.
4. The Center Director may suggest outside resources to parents and we will work with any outside resource for further guidance in responding to the child’s behavior.
5. If the inappropriate behavior continues, parents will be asked to keep the child home for a day or two.
6. If the inappropriate behavior persists after the child is kept home for several occasions, Central Valley Child Care will request the parent to dis-enroll the child.
GUIDELINES FOR IMMEDIATE DISENROLLMENT
Certain behavior may cause a significant risk of harm to the health and safety of other children or staff. (For Example, a physical assault which results in serious bodily injury, an attempted physical assault which if completed, would result in serious bodily injury, setting or attempting to set fires, bringing weapons to the Center, substantial damage to real or personal property, etc.)
Central Valley Child Care, Inc. may disenroll any child whose behavior creates a significant risk of harm to the health and safety of other children or staff, without following the guidance steps outlined above.
OTHER FORMS OF DISCIPLINE
Our policy does not permit the use of the following forms of discipline:
• Corporal punishment
• Emotional punishment, including ridicule, embarrassment, or humiliation
• Punishing a child for lapses in toilet training habits
• Withholding food, light, warmth, clothing or medical care
• Physical restraint, other than the restraint necessary to protect a child or others from harm
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