At The Baby Vine, discipline is a way of setting boundaries and expectations and can have a positive focus for all involved. The Baby Vine created the House Agreement, which is a set of behavior guidelines that stem from a nurturing, safe, and respectful position. As clients, all families enrolled must agree upon these guidelines as a way of setting universal expectations while demonstrating collaborative support and individual buy-in by all involved (provider and teacher, parents/guardians, and child). Again, this approach to discipline implies that good outcomes can occur, are encouraged, as well as are expected. Behavior guidance will be age and stage appropriate to the individual child and positive reinforcement will always be given. For all observed behavior, the child will receive in-the-moment recognition or guidance for redirection that ties directly into the House Agreement. When the child does not follow the agreed-upon guidelines listed in the House Agreement, the guidelines themselves offer a direct explanation as to why the observed behavior is not okay and can be used as a teaching opportunity. This form of discipline offers a positive focus such as “we are kind to one another” (actions and words), “we are safe” (to one another, ourselves, and our environment), etc., where the individual is set-up for successful outcomes and well-being.
