SECTION 340:110-3-92. Behavior and guidance

(a)   Positive guidance. Discipline is constructive and educational in nature and appropriate to the child's age and circumstances. The caregiver:

(1)   recognizes and encourages acceptable behavior;

(2)   teaches by example and uses fair and consistent rules in a relaxed atmosphere with discipline that is relevant to the child's behavior;

(3)   supervises with an attitude of understanding and firmness;

(4)   redirects children by stating alternatives when behavior is unacceptable;

(5)   when necessary, intervenes as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of all children;

(6)   gives clear directions and provides guidance appropriate to the child's level of understanding;

(7)   speaks so that children understand they and their feelings are acceptable but unacceptable action or behavior is not;

(8)   encourages children to control their own behavior, cooperate with others, and solve problems by talking things out;

(9)   uses safe, natural, and logical consequences to address inappropriate behavior; and

(10)   uses "time-out" periods only as necessary to enable the child to gain control of himself or herself. Time-out periods do not exceed five minutes. No more than one minute of time-out for each year of a child's age is recommended. Time-out periods are not required to be completed should the child regain control.

(b)   Acts prohibited. The caregiver is prohibited from:

(1)   subjecting children to punishment of a physical nature, such as shaking, striking, spanking, biting, swatting, thumping, pinching, popping, shoving, spatting, yanking, hair pulling, slamming, excessive exercise, or any cruel treatment that may cause pain;

(2)   subjecting children to punishment of a psychological nature, such as humiliation, making derogatory or sarcastic remarks about them or their families, or using harsh or profane language, or making actual or implied threats of physical punishment;

(3)   punishing or threatening children in association with food, rest, or toilet learning;

(4)   putting anything in or on a child's mouth as punishment;

(5)   seeking or accepting parental permission to use any punishment or act prohibited by this subsection;

(6)   restraining a child by any means other than holding. The child is only held as long as is necessary for the child to regain control;

(7)   isolating a child without supervision or placing the child in a dark area;

(8)   permitting a child to discipline other children; and

(9)   punishing an entire group due to the actions of a few children.

[Source: Amended at 10 Ok Reg 107, eff 10-13-92 (emergency); Amended at 10 Ok Reg 2287, eff 6-11-93; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1607, eff 5-25-00; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 22, eff 10-1-07 (emergency); Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1962, eff 7-1-08]