Behavioral Guidance

We follow guidance strategies and techniques of “Guiding Children`s Behaviour” guidelines (Ministry of Health Planning. http:/www.hls.gov.bc.ca/ccf/publications/index.html). 

Guidance will be used in the centre instead of discipline and punishment of any kind. 

We value and respect each child as a unique individual. Our goal in guiding children’s behaviour is to ensure their safety and to assist them in developing self-confidence, self-esteem, self-control, self-discipline and sensitivity in their interactions with others.

We believe children are entitled to an environment where they feel safe, and are loved, nurtured and treated with respect and dignity.

  1. “A license must ensure that a child, while under the care or supervision of the license, is not subjected to any of the following:
  1. shoving, hitting or shaking by an employee or another child, or confinement or physical restrain by another child.
  2. confinement or physical restrain by an employee, except as authorized in a child’s  Care Plan if the care plan includes instructions respecting behavioural guidance.
  3. harsh, belittling or degrading treatment by an employee or another child, whether verbal, emotional or physical, that could humiliate the child or undermine the child`s self respect.
  4. spanking or any other form of corporal punishment.
  5. separation, without supervision by a responsible adult, from other children.
  6. as a form of punishment, deprivation of meals, snacks, rest or necessary use of a toilet.  
  1. A licensee must ensure that a child is not, while under the care or supervision of the licensee, subject to emotional abuse, physical, sexual abuse or neglect.”

(Child Care Licensing Regulations, sec. 52)

All incidents are to be recorded by the staff in the communication book and incident report forms. 

The centre encourages open communication with parents and guardians regarding any issues involving their child. Consistency between home and the centre helps children to understand expectations and respect limits. The centre will be sensitive to the needs of all children, and different strategies will be used. If a child develops dangerous and/or disrespectful attitudes a personal care plan will be developed based on recorded (written and/or videotaped) observations of the child, incident report forms and the communication book. 

“If the child has a care plan that includes instructions respecting behavioural guidance, the licensee must ensure that

  1. any behavioural guidance given to child is consistent with those instructions, and 
  2. if the behavioural guidance includes the use of restrains, that the restrains are administered only by person who is trained in the use of, and alternatives to the use of, restrains.”  

                                         (Child Care Licensing Regulations, sec. 51) 

Guidance Strategies 

The staff will use following strategies to guide children`s behaviour:

  • Modeling positive behavior
  • State clear, consistent and simple limits
  • Involving children in setting those limits
  • State limits in a positive manner
  • Having appropriate expectations for children according to their development
  • Acknowledge children`s feelings
  • Respecting and reflecting children’s feelings
  • Teaching children to express their feelings in appropriate ways
  • Teaching children problem-solving and conflict resolution skills and
  • Encouraging them to use those skills with their peers
  • Use redirection
  • Provide appropriate choices
  • Allowing children to experience natural and logical consequences to their behaviour
  • Plan and provide transition from one activity to the other

If a child exhibits persistent behavioral challenges, staff will implement a range of positive guidance strategies tailored to the child’s individual needs. When necessary, a structured behavior management plan may be developed in collaboration with the center’s leadership team.

Families will be consulted when a child’s behavior requires a consistent and systematic approach to ensure alignment between home and center strategies. Where appropriate, additional support services may be accessed to assist children with emotional or behavioral challenges, with the consent and involvement of the family.

Outdoor Time for Extremely Active Children

Children who are extremely active or require additional physical movement outside of the scheduled outdoor time may be taken outside in small groups. This must be done at any time of the day, based on the child’s needs. A designated staff member, such as ECEA, may supervise this small group, while the larger group remains indoors.

This practice must be planned and managed daily to support individual regulation needs, while always remaining in compliance with the Child Care Licensing Regulation (CCLR) and staff-to-child ratio requirements.

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