Discipline and Classroom Management
At Wee Wisdom, all caregivers are required to use “positive discipline” with each child. Positive discipline in an ongoing process of helping children to develop self-control for self-management while protecting and maintaining the integrity of the child.
When implementing “positive” discipline, all caregivers are required to do the following:
- The caregiver must communicate to children using positive statements.
- The caregiver will encourage children, with adult guidance and support, to use their own words and solutions in order to resolve their own interpersonal conflicts.
- The caregiver will communicate with children by getting down to their eye level, and talking to them in a calm, quiet manner about what behavior is expected.
- If the behavior problems persists, the caregiver will initiate one or both of the following steps:
- Child may be redirected to another activity
- For children age three (3) and older, a “quiet-thinking time” may be initiated within the classroom area. Quiet-thinking time will never exceed one (1) minute per age of the child. After the child has had time to quietly think about the situation, the caregiver will engage in a positive conversation, including problem solving, with the child. The caregiver will warmly welcome the child back into the group, coupled with a “positive statement” about the expectations of the child.
Wee Wisdom employees are never permitted to use any form of negative discipline, including corporal punishment in any manner upon a child’s body, and punishment that would result in any measure of physical discomfort, cruel, harsh, humiliating, or frightening methods of discipline (including threatening the use of physical punishment), isolation in a locked or dark room, or yelling, abusive, or profane language. Further, caregivers will not associate disciplinary action or rewards with rest, food, or toileting.
Your child’s lead caregiver and/or supervisor will maintain an ongoing communication with you regarding all aspects of your child’s care, including behavior expectations
Behavior Expectations
All Wee Wisdom caregivers are trained to recognize each child as an individual whose personal privacy, choice of activities, and cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds are respected. Our curriculum and adult’s interaction is responsive to individual differences in ability and interests. Our goal is to design interactions and activities to develop children’s positive feelings toward learning. Our caregivers will provide your child with may opportunities to develop social skills, such as cooperating, helping, negotiating, and talking with others to solve interpersonal conflicts. We strive to help each child develop and maintain the following:
- Being responsible for yourself
- Respecting the rights of others
- Respecting the property of others
- Being in the appropriate place at the appropriate time
- Using appropriate language
Consultative Parent/Staff Meeting
Inappropriate behavior that reoccurs will most effectively be met with a plan of action that involves the parents and the center. Such behavior will be documented. If subsequent formal parent conferences take place, the results of the conference will be documented as well.
“With deep concern about our 3 ˝ year old son's difficult behavior, which seemed to be getting worse, and no ideas on what to do about it from his preschool teachers where he had been for almost 2 years, we started looking for alternatives. We decided to try Wee Wisdom on alternating days with his other preschool. He started being much happier, less difficult, and participated more. His teachers at Wee Wisdom truly appreciated his gifts and knew how to handle his difficult times. When the opportunity arose, he went to Wee Wisdom full time. Then, his behavior suddenly improved even further. We are so grateful for Wee Wisdom. Our son is now realizing his potential and developing his self esteem. We can't wait till our daughter is old enough to go to Wee Wisdom! The teachers are the best! They truly love the kids and are very highly trained. Our daughter is in a state-of-the-art , brand new, big preschool, and the teachers there are nice. But, we still would prefer to have her at Wee Wisdom where we know both our kids will excel!”
Janet Roepke, MD
Pathologist,
Pathologists Associated
