Sandpoint, ID
Selle Valley Bright Beginnings

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (5.0)

Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children:
...are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

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Director's Description to School's Approach to Discipline

DISCIPLINE:
Discipline will be individualized and consistent for each child. It shall be appropriate to each child’s level of understanding and be directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.
■ Physical punishment shall not be administered to children.
■ Staff/volunteers shall not shame, humiliate, frighten, physically or mentally harm children, or label them negatively.
■ Discipline shall not be associated with food, rest, or illness.
■ The length of time a child is placed in time-out shall not exceed two minutes per year of the child’s age.
■ the following activities or threats of such activities are inappropriate as disciplinary measures and shall not be used for children; these include but are not limited to :
- abusive language
- isolation without supervision
- inflicting physical pain
- forced physical activity
- yelling at children

It is the philosophy of Selle Valley Bright Beginnings to provide positive discipline to children. These are suggestions to be used by staff/volunteers:
■ Redirection: Suggest appropriate behavior.
■ A quiet, private talk: Show respect for the child’s feelings. Get down to the child’s level and give the child complete attention. Be direct and brief.
■ Direct praise: Praise the child that is behaving appropriately. Catch the child being good and comment on that to the child. Avoid always catching the child engaging in inappropriate behavior.
■ Indirect praise: Praise a child who is behaving the way you want the rest of the group to behave.
■ Role Model: The staff should always be a role model for the students. Staff should also role model behavior such as using a whisper voice when they want children to be quieter.
■ Logical Consequences: The outcome is a natural consequence of the behavior.
■ Arrange Contingencies: For acts of physical aggression or other serious offences, a “time out” or supervised separation form the group is appropriate. Staff will give forewarning, then follow through in a firm, fair, and friendly manner with the action announced. When the child is calm enough to listen, the reason for time out will be explained. Staff will listen to the child tell how they felt, why they did what they did, and the teacher will tell how she/he felt about the situation. It is very important that we take time to listen to the child’s side of the story.

Learning to express emotions verbally and honestly is a normal part of childhood. Staff/volunteers will help by modeling appropriate behavior and by teaching an acceptable vocabulary to express anger, annoyance, sadness, etc. Staff/volunteers must keep their eyes and ears open to possible discipline problems that can be avoided and we must always listen to what children have to say.

These are the SVBB rules for children:
■ Always follow directions.
■ Use inside voices.
■ Be respectful to adults and other classmates
■ Clean up after yourself.
■ Keep hands, feet , and other objects to yourself.
■ Follow playground rules.

These are the consequences for children abusing the rules:
1. Verbal warning- This reminds the child of the rule broken. The key is to learn from their mistakes.
2. Time-Out- This allows the child to think about what he/she did wrong and what to do in the future so as not to make the same mistake again.
3. Speaking to Parent- If a rule is continually broken, it will be documented and the parent will be informed.
4. Remove from Class- The child may be removed from the setting to allow the child to calm down.
5. Suspension- In cases of severe or continuous behavior problems.
6. Disenroll from the program- Continuous behavior problems after suspension.

If a child is disenrolled due to behavior, he/she will not be allowed to re-enroll until the next school year and it will be on a probationary basis.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parent #1
the playground is sooo awsome the kids are always moving and so exhasted when we pick them up.

Health

OVERALL RATING (5.0)
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided More >

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Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.5)
Screen and identify all visitors More >
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others

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Montessori? Waldorf? Play-based?

What school type is right for your child? Is one model better than another? What does the research say?

View an example from the Savvy Source guide to learn more.

Trace around your child's foot, with shoe on, on a piece of white construction paper or card stock. Have child cut out the shoe print and add a spooky face. Glue it to a popsicle stick and you have a ghost stick puppet!

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