Children's Learning Center of Wilmington views discipline as the helpful guidance and encouragement of teachers in order to influence and impact children as they grow and learn.

This approach encourages children to interact and become involved with one another as well as their surroundings. Appropriate behavior will be encouraged through frequent praise. Inappropriate behavior will be discouraged through redirecting a child or examining the logical and natural consequences of a particular action. As a last resort, a "time-out" period will be used. A "time-out" period is defined as a period of time when the child is removed from the group but within view of the teacher at all times. This time will be short, one minute per age of the child.

If a child's behavior continues to be an ongoing problem, Children's Learning Center recommends an observation and evaluation by an intervention specialist from ECHOES (Enhancing Childhood through Outreach and Educational Services) or another service agency. CLC reserves the right to dismiss a child if his/her behavior is threatening.

Our goal at CLC is to remain positive with regards to discipline. Our staff pledges to follow the following guidelines with regards to discipline:

1. emphasize what the child should do-not what he/she shouldn't do
2. make discipline an ongoing process-not just a one time occurrence
3. set an example to follow instead of insisting on obedience
4. accept a child's need to assert him/herself
5. foster a child's ability to think instead of thinking for the child
6. bolster a child's self-esteem instead of defeating it
7. help shape a child's behavior instead of condemning misbehavior

The staff at CLC pledges to always avoid the following:

1. physical abuse, including rough handling, pushing, shaking, slapping, etc.
2. methods that will shame, frighten and humiliate a child
3. comparisons among children that foster competitiveness and affects self esteem
4. carry-overs from the incident
5. consequences that are too long, too punitive, or postponed
6. too many rules
7. make promises that we cannot keep
8. being overly helpful as to stifle a child's creativity and independence
9. threatening children with a loss of affection

The following items of discipline are STRICTLY PROHIBITED:

1. denial of food
2. corporal punishment, sarcasm, yelling, and use of outside threats (monsters, police, etc.)
3. isolation in which the child is left totally unattended(out of view of staff)