Cynthia M. Gray

R 400.1913 · R 400.1913 Discipline; child handling. (3) Personnel shall not do any of the following: (a) Hit, spank, shake, bite, pinch, or inflict other forms of corporal punishment. 4 IsI.][s1Iu11• • • r ` 1. A I i 1 A1 • -• I

I conducted an unannounced on-site inspection on 11/12/2020. Licensee, Cynthia Gray stated that sometime at the end of October, Child A was misbehaving and not getting along with some of the other children in care. Child care staff member, Toni Berry, pushed Child A in the back of the head to get him to go into the time out area. Ms. Gray stated that Ms. Berry never hit Child A or any of the other children in care. Ms. Gray stated that on Monday, 11/09/2020, Child A's Mother came to the child care and confronted her about the incident between Child A and Toni Berry. Ms. Gray stated that Child A and Child B's Mother was irate and threatening. Ms. Gray terminated Child A and Child B's enrollment on that date. On that same day I left Child A and Child B's Mother a telephone message and requested a return phone call. I interviewed Toni Berry, over the telephone on 12/17/2020. Ms. Berry explained there was an incident approximately a month prior in which Child A (age 2) was misbehaving and not getting along with the other children in care. Ms. Berry stated that she "slicked" Child A's head to guide him towards the time out area. Ms. Berry explained to me that "slicking" a child in the head means to take the palm of your hand and run it up the back of the child's head from the nape of the neck to the top of the back of the child's head. Ms. Berry stated she spoke with Child A and Child B's Mother who was upset that she "slicked" the back of Child A's head. Ms. Berry told Child A and Child B's Mother that she would not use this method of discipline in the future. On 12/17/2020, I interviewed Child A and Child B's Mother over the telephone. She explained she found out about the incident from Child B (age 8) who also attends the child care. Child A and Child B's Mother explained that because Child B is older, she has better communication skills and reported the incident to her. Child B witnessed Toni Berry, smack Child A in the back of the head when she was sending him to time out. Child A and Child B's Mother stated she text Ms. Berry to question her regarding these concerns. Ms. Berry admitted to "slicking" Child A in the back of the head but denied smacking him. Child A and Child B's Mother told Ms. Berry that she did not want anyone physically discipling her child in anyway. Child A and Child B's 3 Mother stated Child A and Child B no longer attend Cynthia Gray's home for child care. On that same date, I received two text messages from Child A and Child B's Mother. The text was a screen shot of a conversation between Child A and Child B's Mother and Toni Berry. Ms. Berry admitted to "slicking" Child A's head while sending him to time out. I interviewed Child C's Mother on 12/17/2020. Child C's Mother stated there was an incident in which Child C came home and told her that Cynthia Gray, grabbed the back of his neck and sat him down at the dining room table because he did not want to eat his ravioli. Child C's Mother stated that Child C is three years old and she wasn't sure if he may have gotten the story mixed up due to his age. Child C's Mother did not speak with Ms. Gray about this concern. Child C's Mother stated that she is currently looking for alternative child care. I attempted to contact Child D's Father, Child E's Mother, Child F's Mother, Child G's Mother and Child H's Mother on 12/17/2020. When I attempted to contact Child D's Father someone else answered the phone and stated that I had the wrong telephone number. I left a voice mail for Child E's Mother, but I have not heard from her to date. Child F's Mother and Child G's Mother had a message on their phones stating that the user was busy. Child H's Mother's telephone was disconnected. I received a text from Toni Berry on 12/18/2020. The text contained the discipline policy for the home. I found the discipline policy to be appropriate. The policy stated that time outs would not be used on children under the age of three years. On 12/18/2020 I spoke with Licensee, Cynt

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R 400.1913 · R 400.1913 (3) Personnel shall not do any of the following: (g) Use time out for children under 3 years old.

Child care staff member, Toni Berry, put Child A into time out when he was two years old.

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