Child Guidance Policy 

1.   Adults will model for children positive methods of guidance, which demonstrate problem-solving skills and self-control. 

2.  Physical abuse (spanking, swatting, hitting, grabbing, shaking, squeezing, biting, pinching, a child) will never be used by any adult at this facility. 

3.  Mental and verbal abuse (shaming, humiliating, and frightening a child) will never be used by any adult at this facility. 

4.  A child may be removed from an activity for a Short period of time to give her/him the chance to calm down away from the group (but not isolated or unsupervised). 

5.  Children may occasionally be firmly—but gently—held by an adult to prevent them from harming themselves, or others or property. 

6.  Child guidance methods and/or consequences will never be related to eating, sleeping, or toileting. 

7.  A child’s behavior will be discussed confidentially with his/her parent(s) so consistent guidance methods will be used at home and at this facility. 

8.  Parents may be asked to remove a child from this facility if behavior problems occur which cannot be handled in the best interest of the child. 

9.  This facility will focus on preventing behavior problems by providing an organized physical environment and a variety of age appropriate adult-directed and child-initiated activities.  Whenever possible, children will be given the opportunity to make real choices about what they will do and where they will play. 

10. A few simple, clearly stated rules will be appropriate to the situation and the children’s level of understanding.  Adults will focus on the acceptable behavior (“Trucks are for driving.”) rather than negative (“Don’t throw the truck.”) so children will know what is expected of them. 

11.  To provide for smooth transitions from one activity to another, children will be given ample notice when an activity time period is nearly over so they may complete their play or prepare for the change.