Section R9-3-405. Discipline and Guidance

A.      A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member:

1.        Establishes and maintains reasonable guidelines and lim- its for enrolled children’s behavior and applies them con- sistently;

2.        Teaches, models, and encourages orderly conduct, self- control, and age-appropriate behavior;

3.        When disciplining an enrolled child:

a.        Explains to the enrolled child why the particular behavior is not allowed,

b.        Suggests an alternate behavior to the enrolled child, and

c.        Assists the enrolled child to become engaged in an alternate activity; and

4.        If an enrolled child’s behavior may result in harm to self or others, holds the enrolled child without undue force until the enrolled child regains self-control or composure.

B.       A certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member does not use or allow:

1.        A method of discipline that could cause harm to the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child;

2.        Corporal punishment;

3.        Discipline associated with:

a.        Eating, napping, sleeping, or toileting;

b.        Medication;

c.        Mechanical restraint;

d.        Humiliation; or

e.        Fear; or

4.        Discipline administered to an enrolled child by an indi- vidual who is not a staff member.

C.      A certificate holder may allow a staff member to separate an enrolled child older than two years of age from other children for unacceptable behavior according to the following:

1.        A separation period may not last longer than three min- utes after the enrolled child has regained control or com- posure, and

2.        A staff member may not allow an enrolled child to be separated for longer than 10 minutes without the staff member interacting with the enrolled child.

D.      A staff member may not discipline the staff member’s own child in a manner inconsistent with subsections (A) through

(C)  during hours of operation.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 10 A.A.R. 1214, effective September 1, 2004 (Supp. 04-1). Section repealed; new R9-3-405 renumbered from R9-3-409 and amended by exempt rulemaking at 17 A.A.R. 1530, effective September 30, 2011 (Supp. 11-3).