(a) Written discipline policy shall be followed by all staff and shall: - (i) Not include any discipline that is in violation of applicable laws;
- (ii) Outline methods of guidance appropriate to the ages of the children enrolled;
- (iii) Explicitly describe positive guidance, such as redirection, natural and logical consequences, modeling of positive behavior and other non-violent, non-abusive methods of discipline; and
- (iv) Be included in orientation of all staff.
(b) When "time out" is used, it shall: - (i) Enable the child to regain control of himself/herself and shall keep the child in visual contact with a caregiver;
- (ii) Be a last resort technique for a child who is harming another, or in danger of harming himself/herself; and
- (iii) Be used infrequently and for very brief periods of time-out using one (1) minute for each year of the child's age. It shall be used selectively, taking into account the child's developmental stage and the usefulness of "time out" for the particular child.
(c) Children in care shall not act as or be employed as staff or be allowed authority over other children.
(d) The following behavior shall be prohibited in all child care settings: - (i) Punishment associated with food, rest or toilet training;
- (ii) Rough handling of children, including but not limited to hitting, spanking, beating, shaking, pinching, pushing or other measures that could produce physical pain;
- (iii) Inappropriate use of language, including but not limited to profanity, name-calling, derogatory or demeaning terminology or screaming related to disciplinary purposes;
- (iv) Any form of humiliation including threats of physical punishment;
- (v) Any form of emotional maltreatment including rejecting, terrorizing, corrupting, isolating or ignoring a child. Children can be removed from a group, but not isolated. Behaviors of a child may be ignored, but not the child; and
- (vi) Any form of confining a child's movement or restraining a child as a means of punishment.