Discipline - Punishment prohibited

Disregard of any of the following disciplinary rules or any disciplinary measure resulting in physical or emotional injury, or neglect, or abuse, to any child is grounds for license denial or revocation: 1. The child care center must have a written policy regarding the discipline of children. The operator shall provide the policy to, and discuss the policy with, the staff members responsible for caring for or teaching children before the child care center begins operation or before staff members begin working with children. 2. Discipline must be constructive or educational in nature and may include diversion, separation from the problem situation, talking with the child about the situation, praising appropriate behavior, or gentle physical restraint, such as holding. A child may not be subjected to physical harm, fear, or humiliation. 3. Authority to discipline may not be delegated to children nor may discipline be administered by children. 4. Separation, when used as discipline, must be appropriate to the child's development and circumstances. The child must be in a safe, lighted, well-ventilated room within sight or hearing range of an adult staff member responsible for caring for or teaching children. A staff member may not isolate a child in a locked room or closet. 5. A child may not be punished for lapses in toilet training. 6. A staff member may not use verbal abuse or make derogatory remarks about a child, or a child's family, race, or religion when addressing the child or in the presence of a child. 7. A staff member may not use profane, threatening, unduly loud, or abusive language in the presence of a child. 8. A staff member may not force-feed a child or coerce a child to eat, unless medically prescribed and administered under a medical provider's care. 9. A staff member may not use deprivation of meals or snacks as a form of discipline or punishment. 10. A staff member or any other adult in or at the child care center may not kick, punch, spank, shake, pinch, bite, roughly handle, strike, mechanically restrain, or physically maltreat a child. 11. A staff member may not force a child to ingest substances that would cause pain or discomfort, for example, placing soap in a child's mouth to deter the child from biting other children. 12. A staff member may not withhold active play from a child as a form of discipline or punishment, beyond a brief period of separation.