How is discipline handled at Sunnymont?
At Sunnymont, discipline and guidance are considered part of the curriculum. Social learning is probably the most important aspect of nursery school. It is natural for children to make mistakes as they learn to get along with others (adults still do!). Children misbehave because they are trying to get their needs met and have picked a poor method. Our job as adults is to help children understand these needs, and find and practice better methods for meeting them. Time out or other punishments don’t give children an opportunity to learn, and they do leave children feeling defensive, and less ready to listen to our adult wisdom. Discipline at Sunnymont is gentle and supportive. Limits are clearly enforced by loving adults who explain why they intervened (“You wanted that car! And I can’t let you grab.”) and help a child to learn alternatives. (“Let’s let him know you’re waiting for a turn when he’s done, and I’ll help you wait.”) Kids learn that an adult’s most important job is “to keep e
