The way we discipline our children has a big impact on whom they grow up to be – and the types of parents they become in the future. However, children are spending more of their time at school and daycare centers. The discipline they are receiving in these places shapes their childhood in a major way. When selecting a daycare for your child, it is important to assess their discipline policies.

Here are six things to look out for in a daycare discipline policy:

1. Prevention

Does a daycare center monitor kids to see the initial signs of bad behavior? Most inappropriate actions from young kids are easily spotted. When daycare centers employ preventive methods, they ensure the child understands their behavior is wrong before it becomes a major issue.

2. Consequences

There should be a detailed list of how kids are expected to behave. Parents should have this information before their child enrolls in the daycare center. Moreover, the center should also provide guidance about how children are punished if they break specific rules.

3. Positivity

It is not the job of a daycare center to negatively discipline children, especially for small infractions. If you feel that a daycare center has overly harsh disciplinary policies, you may want to find a better place for your child to spend time. Daycare centers that advocate positivity in response to misbehavior are a much better fit.

4. Time Out

How does the daycare center handle timeouts? Is the time-frame appropriate? Will a teacher talk to the child in the corner before they are reintroduced into the group?

5. Helping a Child

Not every child is the same. Certain children find it easier to interact with others in a big group. Some kids are better equipped to remain calm when they have so many choices and distractions in front of them. Will teachers at the daycare center help a child who is struggling? If the kids are asked to do some activity, but one or two kids are confused on what to do, will teachers help them? Young kids need guidance, not discipline. Finding a daycare center that believes in this philosophy is so important.

6. Communication with Parents

It is vital to enroll your child in a daycare center that believes in open communication with parents. If there is an incident with your child and you only learn about it a month later, it is not good enough. The daycare center must have policies that result in immediate communication with parents when there is a disciplinary or behavioral issue.

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Top Daycare Centers was started with a simple mission - To help parents like us find the safest, most reliable and trusted daycare and child care centers and services near your area.