All adults working with children at the Sault Cooperative Preschool are committed to using, or learning to use better, positive methods of behavior management which encourage self-control, self-direction, and self-esteem for each child. These methods insure healthy growth for the individual child and the group. Assistance in managing and directing behavior and feelings is carried out in a context of living with children through each minute of the day--listening, observing, structuring, informing, limiting, responding, and encouraging with warm, convincing and committed involvement.

No child will be allowed to hurt themselves, or others, nor disrupt the play of others.  Behavior management should be used positively and consistently in such a way as will be helpful to the child, and will allow him/her to maintain a positive self-concept and his/her dignity.  Troublesome behavior should be dealt with as soon after the incident as possible, at a level appropriate to the child’s developmental stage.  Discipline should be related to the inappropriate behavior.  The child should understand the consequences of behavior. The teacher will inform the children what is expected of them (the rules of the school), and will positively reinforce desirable behavior.

Prohibited forms of discipline are:

• Corporal punishment of children.  This includes, but is not limited to; striking a child directly or with any physical object; shaking; shoving; spanking; other forms of     aggressive contact; requiring or forcing a child to repeat physical movements; or forcing food on the  child.
  
• Deliberate harsh, belittling or degrading responses of any form, including verbal, physical  and emotional, that would humiliate a child or undermine a child’s self-respect.
  
• Depriving a child of any of the usual comforts, including food and clothing. Isolating, physically restraining, or confining a child to a lockable room or structure.

Examples of Positive Methods

§  Sharing with children what is expected helps avoid resistance or angry reactions.

§  Specific words or praise, or encouragement with respect, build cooperative attitudes.

§  Adequate adult supervision in appropriate places avoids problems developing.

§  Meeting individual needs with close relating.

·         Get down to the child’s eye level when you can.  Use positive suggestions in modulated, convincing voice.  State rules clearly and simply.  Repeat if needed, and explain reasons or alternatives within common sense limits.

§  You may need to limit a child’s behavior for his/her, or other’s safety.

§  You may need to redirect an activity or substitute another.

·         Let the child, or children work a problem or conflict out for themselves if possible.  Interrupt or intervene on an activity only when needed, or when you could add constructive enrichment.