I provide an environment that encourages caring and cooperative relationships. My objective is to help children learn the social skills they need to resolve conflicts in a socially acceptable way, and to their own satisfaction, without loss of pride.

I reinforce appropriate behaviour through words and gestures (i.e.: "That's nice of you to share the lego with your friends." or "Thanks for closing the door gently Cody�give me five, dude!") which encourages them to repeat the desired behaviour.

I actively encourage verbal expression. I want all the children to learn to use their words and label how they are feeling. I encourage the children to come to me for guidance and help when they are in uncomfortable, frustrating, or harmful situations. As I am willing to intervene by listening and responding with fairness to all involved, it helps to prevent larger problems such as verbal or physical encounters.

I do not permit hitting, biting, kicking and other forms of physical abuse, nor do I permit verbal and emotional abuse or manipulation. Fighting children will be separated. I will get between them, say their names and tell them to stop. I will state that they are not allowed to act this way and encourage them to explain what happened according to each of their perceptions of the other. I will then reinforce the fact that it is not okay to fight and offer them both suggestions of what they should have done. If a child is still angry and needs to talk, I will listen to the child and help him/her resolve the problem. If the problem or situation occurs again, then I will assess it and intervene, by either removing the toy or piece of equipment from the children's play options, suggesting another activity (i.e.: walk, puzzles, quiet time) or, in more serious/frequent situations, by telling the child/children to sit on the couch for a time-out (I call them 'sit & think') after explaining what a time-out is. After the 'sit & think', I will praise them for their first appropriate or acceptable behaviour as the end result should always be a positive learning experience.

Discipline involves a continuous process of guiding behaviour and is offered while acceptable behaviour is occurring, as well as before, during, and after unacceptable behaviour may be displayed. While there are a wide variety of theories and approaches related to guiding children's behaviour, the goal remains constant: to assist children in developing self-control, self-confidence, and ultimately, self-discipline and sensitivity in their interactions with others.

As a caregiver, I will not allow children to be:

................................................ ...Roxene Walters