Highworth Childminder - Policies
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Policy: Behaviour management
As a registered childminder and member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA), I aim to offer a quality childcare service for parents and children. I recognise the need to set reasonable and appropriate limits to help manage the behaviour of children in my care.
I do not and will not administer physical punishment.
I endorse positive discipline as a more effective way of setting limits for children.
Positive discipline means:
- Rewarding good behaviour because rewards are constructive, they encourage further effort, punishment is destructive – it humiliates children and makes them feel powerless.
- Encouraging self-discipline and respect for others because children need to grow into people who behave well even when there’s no one tell them what to do.
- Setting realistic limits according to age and stage of development because as children grow and develop, our expectations of them change.
- Setting a good example because young children take more notice of how we are and what we do and what we say.
- Encouragement, not orders and instructions because ‘do as you’re told’ teaches nothing for next time. Positive discipline means explaining why.
- Being consistent – saying no and meaning no because children need to know that we mean what we say.
- Praise, appreciation and attention because when children are used to getting attention with good behaviour they won’t need to seek it by misbehaving.
- Building children’s self esteem shaming, scolding, hurting and humiliating children can lead to even worse behaviour.
- Attention, approval and praise build self esteem, and a child who feels valued is more likely to behave well.
By providing a happy, well managed environment, the children in my care will be encouraged to develop social skills to help them be accepted and welcome in society as they grow up.
These policies are copyright Maxine Apps. Please do not make unauthorised copies without written permission. If you have any queries, please contact the author.