Page 66 - Choosing a Child Care Center

LETY CARVAJAL, M.ED.

ed? Great leadership asks often for help from clients
and staff in improving the way their center is run. If
issues are pointed out, they are quickly rectified, and
everyone is notified of the solution in a timely man-
ner.
Understanding the center’s philosophy on disci-
pline and being on the same page will help your child
consistently learn to correct poor behavior. High-
quality centers will always have an age-appropriate
discipline policy in place that deals constructively
with behavioral issues and can be easily explained to
family members. When there are clear boundaries
and a consistent routine, kids will thrive. In most
cases, family members will want to build off of or
align with a center’s discipline policy in their home-
life so that children have a routine and clear expecta-
tions. It’s hard for a child if he isn’t allowed to act in a
certain way at preschool but the same behavior is fine
at home.
This kind of confusion causes children to act out
more. This is why it’s important that your own in-
stincts and views as a parent align with the center’s
discipline policy so that you can be on the same page
about which behaviors are and aren’t appropriate in
all situations. A good center will clearly communicate
boundaries and routines to you and your child so that
no one is left confused. Will your child be placed in a
time out after misbehaving? For how long? Is the

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