The Learning Enrichment Foundation’s philosophy on Behaviour Guidance entails positive redirection of children’s behaviour at all times.
Behaviour guidance involves more than guiding children to understand acceptable behaviour. It is a daily process of recognizing inappropriate behaviour, altering the behaviour, assessing the situation, determining the cause of the behaviour and taking the necessary steps to prevent the behaviour from reoccurring.
Behaviour guidance is something that is dealt with on a daily basis and is an ongoing learning process. Although every situation is different, following strong and consistent guidelines enables us to handle situations and take steps to prevent them from reoccurring. We always strive to provide a safe and carefree environment for the children of the Centre.
In extreme situations where children’s behaviour becomes increasingly aggressive and is endangering him/herself or others, educators may find themselves using physical guidance as a method to defuse or de-escalate the situation.
We realize that a fundamental element to this success is the role of the adult. Our philosophy promotes that adults in our centres who are interacting with children are reflective practitioners.
The goal of our educators is to facilitate children’s learning, development, health and well-being. We expect that our programs:
Help educators become researchers and co-learners with children, parents, caregivers, and colleagues – learning about children, with children, and from children
Help educators focus on building and maintaining relationships and supporting connections among themselves, children, families, and the early years environment.
Prohibited Practices
- No form of corporal punishment of the child; HITTING, GRABBING, SPANKING, KICKING, SQUEEZING, PINCHING, PUSHING, PULLING, BITING, SHAKING.
- Physical restraint of the child, such as confining the child to a high chair, car seat, stroller or other device for the purposes of discipline or in lieu of supervision, unless the physical restraint is for the purpose of preventing a child from hurting himself, herself or someone else, and is used only as a last resort and only until the risk of injury is no longer imminent.
- Locking the exits of the child care centre or home child care premises for the purpose of confining the child, or confining the child in an area or room without adult supervision, unless such confinement occurs during an emergency and is required as part of the licensee’s emergency management policies and procedures.
- Use of harsh or degrading measures or threats or use of derogatory language directed at or used in the presence of a child that would humiliate, shame or frighten the child or undermine his or her self-respect, dignity or self-worth;
- Depriving the child of basic needs including food, drink, shelter, sleep, toilet use, clothing or bedding.
- Inflicting any bodily harm on children including making children eat or drink against their will.
- A child cannot be disciplined in any way for refusing to fall asleep. (Refer to Policy #7.2.12, Sleep Procedures)
PLEASE NOTE:
It is the moral and legal responsibility of any adult who observes mistreatment of any child to contact the appropriate Children’s Aid Society and to inform the Supervisor, Manager(s) and/or Coordinator(s) that a call was placed. It is also the responsibility of any staff member who witnesses another staff contravening the Behaviour Management Contract to report it to the Supervisor and/or Coordinator/Manager.
