As a before and after school program, children begin and/or end their day at Just For Kids. Having said that, sometimes our students come to us stressed. Children face a lot of potential stressors throughout their day—both social and academic. A presentation in class, a disagreement with a friend or sibling, or a big change at home can all leave students feeling strained or anxious.
At Just For Kids, we view behavior as a form of communication—a child communicating a feeling, a need, or a concern. However, young children do not always have experience with how to communicate their feelings or needs in appropriate ways. As a result, “big feelings” can come out in behaviors that are disruptive or aggressive.
All Just For Kids students AND staff members follow the three R’s….to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready. Our Behavior Expectations briefly detail the basic expectations that all students must follow while at Just For Kids. These expectations form the bases of how our program supports children to collaborate and cooperate within a diverse setting.
The Behavior Response Plan goes into more detail and is designed to help students and families to better understand how those expectations translate to the classroom, the JFK approaches to behavior management, and when and what to expect if any consequences are necessary. The goal for the entire Behavior Response Plan is to help guide and support children to learn essential social emotional skills and to strengthen our partnerships with you and with the schools to better serve your child’s individual needs.
This plan splits behaviors into three progressive levels:
Level 1 are common disruptive behaviors. Most, if not all, children will engage in one or more of these behaviors while in the classroom at some point. These behaviors are limited to a single occurrence and should be able to be redirected quickly and efficiently without furthering the disruption to the rest of the classroom.
Level 2 behaviors are more severe, more disruptive, or are persistent Level 1 behaviors that have not responded to simple redirection.
Level 3 behaviors are serious and require immediate action and may include immediate dismissal from the session as well as suspension for the following day.
Examples of Level 1 Behaviors:
-Disrupting classroom activities or transitions (calling out, needing more than one prompt to complete a task, not cleaning up after an activity, getting out of line, playing in the bathroom, etc.)
-Bringing inappropriate items to school.
-Making negative comments about other students (put downs, gossiping, name calling, etc.)
-Uncooperative behavior / not following directions.
-Inappropriate playful behavior (chasing, throwing objects, etc.)
Responses by JFK:
■Childcare provider will give verbal correction and review rules.
■Childcare provider will model appropriate behavior.
■Student may be asked to change his/her seat location or activity.
■Student may lose a classroom privilege.
■Time Out Alternatives
Examples of Level 2 Behaviors:
-Level 1 behaviors that persist despite verbal reminders and minor consequences.
-Teasing (using derogatory language, playfully teasing about someone’s appearance, etc.)
-Rude or disrespectful language (being argumentative, profanity, etc.)
-Rude or disrespectful actions (slamming a door, pushing over chairs, spitting, etc.)
Responses by JFK:
■Childcare provider will give verbal correction and review rules.
■ Childcare provider will model appropriate behavior.
■Student may be asked to change his/her seat location or activity.
■Student is asked to write an explanation to parent.
■Student makes restitution (cleans up what they dumped, etc.)
■Student may lose a classroom privilege.
■TOA in classroom.
■Staff will complete a Behavior Report which includes the recommendations of the Program Coordinator and must be signed by the staff member, parent, and Program Coordinator.
Recommendations will include:
Site coordinator or designated staff member make a call to parent.
Childcare staff and student will develop a student behavior contract.
Develop communication plan with parent.
Increase supervision.
Examples of Level 3 Behaviors:
-Chronic Level 2 behaviors that are not progressing despite interventions listed above.
-Discrimination
-Stealing
-Targeted Bullying or Harassment
-Possessing illegal substances or weapons (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, or having any item that either is a weapon or looks like a weapon).
-Physical fighting
-Pulling a false fire alarm.
-Intimidation/threats
-Using profanity or obscene gestures towards other students or adults (cursing directed at another student, threatening to beat someone up, calling an adult a name, etc.)
-Assault of school personnel.
-Running away
-Vandalism (breaking or damaging furniture or materials, etc.)
Responses by JFK:
■Onsite staff immediately notifies the Program Coordinator.
■Program Coordinator will contact parent.
■A meeting with the Program Coordinator, parent, child, and site coordinator may be set up.
■Depending on the nature and severity of the incident, the child may be suspended for the balance of the day including the next session.
■In extreme cases, expulsion from the program.
The Just For Kids community believes deeply in a “culture of respect”. At every step of the way, we want to partner with children, families, and school professionals to help support your children.