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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Parents
naturally worry about the type of discipline their
child receives at the daycare centre, family dayhome,
or in the hands of their nanny. Is their child being
treated fairly? Is he or she being singled out? Does
the caregiver hit their child, yell excessively at
him/her or use force to get their child to do what
the caregiver wants?
Even
before a child is placed in any child care setting,
it is best to talk with the caregiver at length about
issues of discipline, and to visit the facility to
ensure what you are told and what actually transpires
correspond. So what does one look for in appropriate
discipline practices in child care? Each province
or state has their own guidelines as to what is and
is not allowed when it comes to disciplining a child.
You would be wise to contact your local licensing
authority to learn about the rules in your area. It
is up to you however to monitor your child care arrangements
daily to ensure these rules are not being broken.
There
are three factors involved in helping children behave:
- Setting
reasonable, clear rules
- Dealing
reasonably with broken rules, and
- Being
a good model for the children (acting in ways that
you want the children to act).
There
are three very simple rules that many providers use
which are easy for the children to understand. These
are:
- You
may not hurt yourself.
- You
may not hurt others (hurt can be emotional as well
as physical).
- You
may not hurt things (toys, furniture, etc.).
While
rules and regulations vary from area to area, here
are some widely-accepted basic rules concerning discipline:
- No
cruel, harsh, or unusual punishment is allowed.
- Discipline
shall not include profanity, negative remarks about
a child or his family, or other verbal abuse.
- Discipline
shall not be used to humiliate, shame or frighten
a child.
- Discipline
shall not include spanking, hitting, striking, biting
or pinching.
- No
child shall be confined in an enclosed area, such
as a locked room, box or closet.
- Discipline
shall not include preventing a child from eating,
sleeping, or using the toilet.
- No
child shall be allowed to discipline another child.
If
your child talks about any form of discipline that
makes you uncomfortable or is prohibited, talk with
your caregiver at once. Always believe your child
first. If you are not satisfied with the caregiver's
response, monitor the situation closely and talk to
other parents. Remember, always remove your child
from any situation that is dangerous to his/her safety
and well-being. If you suspect abuse, remove your
child from care and call your local licensing authority
and the police at once.
From
Caring For Children in Your Home, A Handbook for
Family Day Care Providers, Office of Child Care
Services, Ohio Department of Human Services.
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