Belknap Child Development Center

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (1) Positive methods of discipline that encourage self- control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation must be used.

On 06/07/2021 I emailed the complainant in regard to the allegations received. On 06/08/2021 I completed an unannounced visit to Belkanp Child Development Center. I met with Program Director Joan Lange. Mrs. Lange stated Child A was digging in the classroom raised garden bed and trying to eat the dirt. She picked up Child A under the arms and moved him away from the garden bed. Child A "went limp" as she placed him on the ground. Child A has issues with going into the garden bed and eating the dirt. Mrs. Lange did not yell or pick Child A up in an aggressive 2 manner. Mrs. Lange denied she dropped or threw Child A down onto the ground. Mrs. Lange stated Child A did not cry or act upset and continued playing. Child A often goes limp when he gets picked up and it makes it hard for staff members to remove him from certain situations. Mrs. Lange again denied that she harmed or picked Child A up in an aggressive way. I interviewed staff member Jayne Johnson. Mrs. Johnson stated she works with Child A for most of the day until it is time for her to leave. When she leaves for the day, Child A is in the classroom with Mrs. T. Mrs. Johnson did not witness any event where Child A was thrown to the ground. She has not witnessed Mrs. Lange act rough or mean with Child A in the past. Child A has had issues with the classroom raised garden bed and likes to dig in the dirt and eat it. Sometimes when you pick Child A up, he goes limp. When he goes limp, she just places him on the ground and he will then stand up. When Child A does go limp, he becomes very heavy. Mrs. Johnson picks child A up under the arms and then places him down. Mrs. Johnson does not think that Mrs. Lange would throw or place Child A down in a mean or aggressive manner. I spoke with staff member Tatiana Mccoy. Mrs. Mccoy stated she was not at the center when the incident happened. Child A does like to go into the raised garden bed and play with the dirt, but it is because he is so young and is curious. She has heard from previous parents and staff members that Mrs. Lange is loud and rough with children. Staff members have quit because they do not like how Mrs. Lange handles the children. Mrs. Mccoy feels when Mrs. Lange gets tired or aggravated, she gets upset at the children. On 06/08/2021 I received an email from the complainant. Complainant stated they were in a parking lot taking a break in front of the child care. They watched Child A playing in the garden. Mrs. Lange came over and grabbed Child A by the arms and placed him hard on the ground. Child A then walked back to the garden bed and Mrs. Lange picked him up a second time. After the second time, Mrs. Lange placed Child A down hard on the ground. Child A was rubbing his arm and crying. Complainant stated the actions were very rough and that no one should grab a child like that. On 06/23/2021 I contacted Child A's mother. Child A's mother stated she was aware of the incident because she heard about it from her oldest son. Her oldest son also attends the child care center and told her that Child A got hurt by Mrs. Lange. Child A's mother stated they have been working on finding a new center because they have had concerns about Mrs. Lange. She feels that Mrs. Lange is very rough and loud with all the children in care. She she has heard from other staff members that they do not think Mrs. Lange should be working with children because all she does is yell and scream. A staff member just recently quit because she was so upset with how Mrs. Lange acts. Child A's mother has removed her children from the child care and they are now going to another center. She stated although she did not witness the incident herself, she feels that Mrs. Lange was rough with her child. 3 On 06/23/2021 I completed an exit conference with Program Director Joan Lange.

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