Child Guidance
Caring adults set limits in the classrooms and maintain a calm consistent approach to guiding children’s behavior. This kind of approach enables teachers to create an environment that reduces discipline problems by focusing on helping children to learn, to respect themselves, and to respect the rights of others. School for Little Children personnel will not use physical punishment or verbal abuse.
Praise and positive reinforcement of good behavior is used consistently with all children as a way to build a child’s self-esteem and encourage self-control. Experienced teachers recognize the possibility of potential behavior problems before they occur, and redirect the child’s behavior before it becomes unacceptable.
There are times when children’s behavior results in a logical consequence. This helps them to learn the cause-effect relationship of their action. Staff encourage children to problem solve independently as much as possible. If staff intervention is needed, staff members mediate or facilitate.
Discipline and guidance shall be developmentally related to a child’s act and may include firm positive statements, redirection of behaviors or removal from the group as a means of helping a child gain self control. Discipline shall be the responsibility of adults who have an ongoing relationship with the children. Teachers will communicate with parents and care givers, sharing information and work together in a collaborative partnership.
DCFS State Licensing Standards require schools to have a written policy for the termination of a child’s enrollment because of disciplinary issues. School for Little Children’s policy is one of inclusion. We will make every effort to work with families to ensure the most appropriate placement.
Please note that the following behaviors are prohibited in our school:
- Corporal punishment, including hitting, spanking, swatting, beating, shaking, pinching, and other measures, intended to induce physical pain or fear.
- Threatened or actual withdrawal of food, rest or use of the bathroom.
- Abusive or profane language.
- Any form of public or private humiliation including threats of physical punishment.
- Any form of emotional abuse, including shaming, rejecting, terrorizing, or isolating a child.