Develop a discipline plan for use in your classroom or the facility as a whole. Review the plan with the young child facility administration and a legal adviser. Make sure that the modes of restriction or punishment do not defy state laws. Initiating a positive discipline routine involves using the concepts of behavior encouragement and communication. Teachers and caregivers should encourage children to resolve their own conflicts using positive solutions and non-violent words. Communicate to the children the importance of being a good classroom citizens and waiting their turn, sharing and cleaning up after themselves. Reward positive contributions to the group with small trinkets or educational items. Punishment for poor behavior could entail a "time out" for children age three and older, loss of playtime or an added classroom chore.
Write a letter to parents to be reviewed and signed during the registration process. Keep the original letter and give parents a copy to use as a home reference. Detail the discipline policy approved by the facility and any recourse for parents if the rules include expulsion from the program. If an appeal process or parent meeting prior to removal from the program is a part of the discipline process, include such information in the parent letter.
Make posters for display in areas of the day care or preschool that detail the rules in a manner young children can understand. Keep the wording simple and include photos or diagrams that depict the type of behavior relating to each rule. Read the rules with the children at least once a week, and review as necessary when problems arise.
Create another poster that addresses the rewards and punishments relating to day care behavior. Again, use simple wording and images to help young children comprehend the information. Individual behavior charts or a group chart listing each child's name can serve as a tracking device for the children. Teachers can aid students in marking the chart at the end of each day or week. Students can use stickers to place a note on the days when they had good behavior, when they earned a reward, or to note rule infractions.