Our priority is the safety of your child.
Our school rules are:
- Gentle words
- Gentle hands
- Clean up
- Ask for help from a big person
We do not allow children to do anything to themselves or others, e.g., hitting, scratching or biting.
Our staff follows and enforces rules listed below:
- All physical and verbal aggression is to be stopped immediately.
- If anyone is hurt physically or emotionally, attend immediately.
- The child aggressed upon and witnesses of aggression should be comforted, reassured by the teacher with positive reinforcement. Assure safety of each child.
- Find out why the aggression occurred and channel the aggression if possible:
- Kicking: redirect behavior - divert to work bench or play dough, etc.
- Biting: redirect behavior - see #5
- Verbal aggression: see #5, ways to redirect.
- After the child (aggressor) is calm, make sure that you make classroom rules clear: "I cannot let you hit or use the word 'dummy', we do not allow you to hit or call others dummy at school. We use positive words here." It is hard to talk with a child when he/she is angry. While first stopping aggression, a simple coming between the children with "I cannot let you hit or call others names" usually works. Try to use verbal skills with the child to find out the source of the anger. Teachers are encouraged to have children reflect their feelings. The professional staff serves as models for children to follow.
- Verbal and physical aggression should be handled by the verbal diversion skills of the teacher; and when necessary with consultation of other professional staff.
- If physical and verbal aggression is reoccurring, as a last resort use "Time Out" for children age 3 and above. Time out is a removal from the area of aggression. Children in a time out need direct adult supervision. The amount of time should not exceed 5 minutes. Children 0-3 are too young for a time out. This age needs distraction or diversion to correct a given aggressive situation. (see #5)
- Teachers use good language skills, calm voice, and plan ahead to stop and handle aggression. No hitting, shaking, or any corporal punishment is allowed. Verbal abuse, withholding meals, or punishing for lapse in toilet training is unacceptable.
- Staff informs parents of reoccurring aggression. The following guides suggested:
- Inform parents/guardians of child's behavior (formal or informal conference).
- Set up home-school management plan for child (consult with parents and other professional staff).
- Keep observation notes of child and report findings to parents/guardians.
- Recommend to parents/guardians outside evaluation from child development specialists, if UCLCC staff determines an evaluation would be useful for the child's emotional, social, physical, or cognitive development.