Discipline means to teach. It should be a positive learning experience aimed at helping children reflect on and take responsibility for their actions. At Atchison Child Care, we dedicate our classrooms to safety and creating a “School Family” environment.
Goals
- Foster individual growth
- Create a sense of belonging
- Assign meaningful jobs to each student daily
Approach to Discipline
Every child is unique and behaves differently. It is our responsibility to find the most effective way to work with each child. We follow the Conscious Discipline model, starting each day with activities designed to unite, disengage stress, and connect students to teachers and each other. These activities include:
- Unite: Pledge of Allegiance
- Disengage Stress: S.T.A.R (Smile, Take a deep breath, And Relax)
- Connect: ACCA Song
- Commit to Learning: Daily commitments
“Safe Place”
A safe place within the classroom supports the skill of composure, allowing children to calm down and regain control when upset. This area includes items for calming, such as feeling buddies, “we care bags,” and other comfort items.
Policy Statement on Discipline (DCF Child Care Providers KDHE)
Unacceptable forms of discipline include:
- Humiliating, frightening, or physically harming a child
- Punishments like spanking, slapping, shaking, pulling hair, etc.
- Verbal abuse, including sarcasm, derogatory remarks, and threats
- Restricting movement or enclosing in confined spaces
- Withholding or forcing foods or liquids
- Placing substances that sting or burn on a child’s body
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) does not purchase or continue to purchase services from providers who use unacceptable forms of discipline.
Positive Discipline
Positive discipline, when used for guiding and teaching, provides children with:
- Encouragement and a sense of satisfaction
- Understanding of the consequences of behavior
- Behavioral limits for security and respect for order
Effective positive discipline avoids power struggles and promotes the child’s discovery of beneficial values.
For more details, refer to the DCF Child Care Provider Handbook (pg 36) at www.dcf.ks.gov.