We take a preventative approach to discipline that teaches children positive behaviors rather than punishing them for misbehaving. Our goal is to provide children with the opportunity and motivation to make choices, to function independently, and to learn social skills through gentle, encouraging guidance, respect the needs of others, adapt to routines and simple rules, and become responsible group members.

We will use positive methods of discipline that encourage self-control, self-direction, positive self-esteem and cooperation. Each member of our staff is required to complete training that deals with the issue of classroom discipline.

Discipline at Little Blessings International School is individualized, yet consistent for each child. The child’s level of understanding is considered and discipline efforts will be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control. Our staff is instructed to follow these guidelines:

• We will use praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only on unacceptable behavior.
• We will remind children of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements.
• We will monitor and analyze the situations and redirect play and learning activities when necessary.
• We will guide the child toward more appropriate behavior using positive statements.
• There will be as few rules as possible. Rules that are developed will focus on health/safety, consideration of others and their feelings, and care of materials and equipment.
• Limits and rules will reflect the children’s stage of development and will be consistently regulated.
• We will handle disagreements between children fairly. We will avoid taking sides or the word of one child, especially about situations we did not witness.
• We will encourage children to handle non-dangerous situations by themselves.
• We will step in and take control of the situation where other children or adults are being hurt, when children are hurting themselves, and when property is being destroyed.
• We will remember it is the misbehavior we dislike and not the child.
• In some instances, a brief, supervised separation from the distressing situation may be used to allow the child to refocus before rejoining the group. The amount of time which a child may be separated from the group is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.

There will be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited:

• Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment.
• Punishment associated with food, naps, toilet training, or outside play; pinching, shaking or biting a child.
• Hitting a child with a hand or instrument.
• Putting anything in or on the child’s mouth.
• Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child.
• Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language.
• Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed.
• Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child’s age.

No child may be physically restrained in any way unless required to protect the immediate safety of the child and/or others. The Director or other office personnel may become involved if the child is not responding to the teacher’s efforts. At this point, the parents may be contacted and suspension or expulsion may occur.

If all the above have failed; a meeting will be set up with the parents to determine a positive Individualized Discipline Plan.

All staff members are informed that failure to follow these guidelines may result in termination of employment.