Discipline and Guidance Policy for Texas State University Child Development Center

Discipline and Guidance Policy for

Texas State University Child Development Center

Texas Administrative Code, Title 40, Chapters 746 and 747, Subchapters L, Discipline and Guidance

Discipline must be:

1. Individualized and consistent for each child;
2. Appropriate to the child’s level of understanding; and
3. Directed toward teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control.

A caregiver may only use positive methods of discipline and guidance that encourage self-esteem, self-control, and self-direction, which include at least the following:

1. Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior.
2. Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements.
3. Redirecting behavior using positive statements.
4. Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.**

There must be no harsh, cruel, or unusual treatment of any child. The following types of discipline and guidance are prohibited:

1. Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment;
2. Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training;
3. Grabbing or pulling a child:
4. Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth;
5. Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child;
6. Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language;
7. Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet;
8. Placing a child in a restrictive device for timeout;
9. Withholding active play or keeping a child inside as a consequence for behavior, unless the child' is exhibiting behavior during active play that requires a brief supervised separation or time out that is consistent with §746.2803(4)(D) of this subchapter (relating to What methods of discipline and guidance may a caregiver use?), and 
10. Requiring a child to remain silent or inactive for inappropriately long periods of time for the child's age.

** Even though time-out is stated within minimum standards and considered an appropriate way for discipline and guidance, it is not a technique practiced at the CDC and not a part of our discipline and guidance policy.