• Violation

  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 June 26, 2023, I spoke to the Complainant by telephone who said that Program Director, Joy Wegner, forces children to run laps around the playground for misbehavior. The Complainant was concerned because the temperature outside has been very hot, and she felt it was inappropriate to require children to do physical activities like running for discipline. She said children have been forced to run as a form of discipline "on multiple occasions." She said children have also had to write sentences for misbehavior and the complainant was concerned because she felt that was not a positive form of discipline for children. On June 26, 2023, I made an onsite inspection to the child care center and spoke to Ms. Wegner, Child Care Staff Member 1 (CCSM 1), and Child Care Staff Member 2 (CCSM 2) about the allegation. Ms. Wegner acknowledged that she has made children in care run laps around the playground for misbehavior but said it is never more than one lap and it has always been at their own pace. She may tell them to "hurry up and get it done" but she said she never pushes them to do it at any particular speed. Ms. Wegner stated that when she has children run a lap it is because they usually have "pent up energy", and it gives the children a way to express that energy in a healthy way instead of utilizing a time-out. She said she watches the heat index closely and she will not have children go outside and run if the weather is not safe. There have been a few times when she has had all of the children in care run a lap around the playground or the gymnasium before playing a game or choosing an activity. Some of the more active boys will have to run laps for throwing water bottles up to hit ceiling tiles in the cafeteria, jumping off the outdoor climber, or hanging from the basketball rim because "they know better" and have had multiple warnings about that behavior and just need to "burn off the excess energy." Ms. Wegner stated that the parents she has spoken to support the practice and have not expressed any concerns about it. Ms. Wegner said she cannot even remember the last time she has made any children in care write sentences as a form of discipline. She said it was probably before Christmas 2022. Even then, it was age-appropriate, and the child did not write more than what fit on one side of sheet of notebook paper. She admitted that she has "threatened" children by asking them if they "want to write sentences" but she has not followed through on it and that is usually enough that they comply with her requests. CCSM 1 stated that she has been employed at the center for less than a year but acknowledged that Ms. Wegner has made children in care run as a form of discipline, but she said it has never been more than two or three laps around the playground and never when it was too hot outside. She said when children have had to run laps, it is always completed at their own pace and some even walk. The only time Ms. Wegner has told a child to "pick up the pace" is when they are almost finished with their lap so they can get back to other activities outside. CCSM 1 said 3 she feels running a lap is a better way to expend excess energy than sitting in a time-out because it allows the child to move and get their body back in control. CCSM 1 said she has only ever seen or heard about one child needing to write sentences since she has been employed at the center and that was November or December 2022. She said the child was being "very rude" and had to write sentences for about ten minutes. The child only filled one side of a sheet of paper and had to repeat back what she had written to Ms. Wegner before she got up to play. CCSM 1 said Ms. Wegner will use writing sentences or running as a threat but only after she has given many opportunities for the child to stop the undesired behavior and Ms. Wegner rarely needs to follow through with the threat because the children will comply with her request. CCSM 2 stated that she has only been empl

Children in care are made to run laps outside in the heat as punishment for behavior. They are also made to write sentences.

Disposition: Substantiated