Zadie's Nurturing Den
About Us - Discipline Policy
Principles
Discipline is a matter of planning, and setting clear limits and expectations; it is
redirection and logical consequences, not punishment. Discipline is also a matter
of anticipating and preventing situations and “heading them off at the pass.”
At Zadie’s Nurturing Den, our job is to gently encourage and support self-control,
to protect children, and to help them learn how to behave responsibly.
Each child at Zadie’s Nurturing Den is respected as a special individual, even
during the power struggles and the fights for independence. We do not believe
in characterizing children as bad, mean or nasty or in using any other derogatory
terms.
Labels stick. At Zadie’s Nurturing Den, we avoid labeling children because children
believe what we tell them about themselves, and their behavior will reflect those
beliefs.
We praise children when they are behaving well so that they know how pleased
we are when they are behaving in an acceptable manner.
We remember to model appropriate behavior because children imitate and learn
from us.
Discipline Do's
Zadie’s Nurturing Den staff members shall:
Make clear that it is the child’s behavior, not the child that is unacceptable
Help the child with appropriate language to understand the problems with
his or her behavior
Use redirection, logical consequences or Cool Down Time methods to
discipline inappropriate behavior
Assist and encourage children to express his / her feelings
Try to appear confident, even when not, understanding that our manner
brings about cooperation
Discipline Don'ts
Zadie’s Nurturing Den staff members shall not:
Hit, shake or use any other form of corporal punishment
Use abusive language, ridicule or speak harshly to children
Humiliate or frighten or use any other form of emotional punishment
Engage in or inflict upon any child any form of abuse and/or neglect
Withhold food, emotional responses, stimulation or deprive rest or sleep
Ask a child to remain silent or inactive for an inappropriately long period
of time