DISCIPLINE STATEMENT

          Preschool children are just beginning to develop the knowledge, emotional security, and skills to manage their social behavior.   As children are introduced, sometimes for the first time, into a group in a work/play situation, we find that they may have had little or no experience interacting with peers. A young child is usually concerned only with getting his own needs met with little concern for those around him.   An understanding teacher can give him the necessary guidance.  

The teacher must help each child maintain a healthy self-image through positive reinforcement, consistency of expectations, and love and respect for them, which will help that child learn appropriate social behavior.  To grow in his ability to interact successfully, the child must begin to feel empathy for others, to accept responsibility, to make good choices and to understand the consequences of his choices and actions.  

           Most inappropriate behavior is due to new demands, misunderstanding of expectations or the lack of language skills.  Viewed as a learning opportunity, the teacher begins helping the child understand the expectations, modeling behaviors for them and giving them the language needed to solve the problem.  Learning to use words, instead of fists, to communicate is a powerful tool for the child and enables him to handle problems by himself.  

              As a child matures, he is expected to begin to use his logical thinking and problem solving skills in his everyday encounters.  If a child becomes emotionally and/or physically out of control, it may be necessary to redirect the child to allow him to calm down.  As he regains his self-control, the teacher will help and encourage him in problem solving techniques.

Involving children in helping to make the rules for their group will often assure their cooperation and participation in maintaining a harmonious classroom and playground environment.

           Annsworth far exceeds the minimum standards as set forth in the Florida Statutes 402.305 Licensing Standards; Child Care Facilities - Section 12, by our positive approach to teaching children behavior management skills.  In that statue it states:  

CHILD DISCIPLINE – (a) Minimum standards for child discipline practices shall ensure that age-appropriate, constructive disciplinary practices are used for children in care and shall include the following requirements:

1.       Children shall not be subjected to discipline, which is severe,  humiliating, or frightening.

2.       Discipline shall not be associated with food, rest, or toileting.

3.       Spanking or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited.  

             Working closely with the parents, sharing information, ideas and progress, will almost certainly be seen in the child's social development and eliminate mixed messages that could otherwise confuse the child.  Parent-teacher conferences are encouraged by Annsworth as an excellent way to keep this communication open.