Appropriate discipline in early childhood education and care services
Ensuring early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are engaging in appropriate discipline practices is one of the regulatory priorities for the Education Standards Board (ESB).
The word discipline is not formally described in the National Law or National Regulations, but it can be understood to be action taken by adults toward children to stop or change inappropriate behaviour.
The ESB works to ensure measures are in place to promote and support positive, safe and respectful relationships with children and young people in education and care settings.
Regulation 155 stipulates interactions with children should:
- encourage children to express themselves and their opinions
- allow children to undertake experiences that develop self-reliance and self-esteem
- always maintain the dignity and rights of each child
- give each child positive guidance and encouragement toward acceptable behaviour
- consider the family and cultural values, age, and physical intellectual development and abilities of each child being educated and cared for by the service.
Regulated parties should not tolerate or engage in any form of conduct which might cause physical, social or emotional harm to children and young people.
Examples of inappropriate discipline include:
- hitting, pushing, slapping, pinching or biting
- force feeding or depriving of food or drink
- unreasonable restraining
- consistently moving a child to other spaces away from play areas
- moving children to another room as punishment
- yelling, belittling or humiliating
- dragging a child
- verbally or physically threatening
- excessive use of negative language
- tormenting, making fun of or laughing about a child
- using sarcastic or cruel humour.
The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) outlines appropriate discipline or behaviour guidance in this factsheet.