Behavior Guidance Policy

Noah's Ark Playschool strives to create a positive learning atmosphere in the classroom. We guide children's behavior to encourage self-respect, respect for others, respect for the property of others, and safety.

Our program provides abundant opportunities to develop self-regulation skills and pro-social behaviors. Children are supported in developing these skills through:

  • Negotiation when sharing materials

  • Communicating ideas in collaborative play experiences

  • Expressing emotions respectfully during disagreements and disappointments

Staff facilitate skill development through modeling, co-regulation, and verbal/physical prompts. We guide behaviors by using "first/then" statements, teaching respectful language (e.g., "May I have a turn when you're all done?"), reminding children of expectations (e.g., "Some for you, some for a friend"), and referring to "Good Friend Rules."

Staff work with children to find ways to cope with strong feelings so they don't become overwhelming. By developing warm, responsive relationships, children feel respected as individuals and know they'll be comforted and supported in times of stress. This positive relationship promotes self-efficacy, allowing children to practice new skills and learn from their mistakes. We also support children's ability to choose behaviors and learn pro-social skills through consistent routines, predictable expectations, and thoughtful environmental structuring.

Good Friend Rules. A good friend:

  1. is a good listener,

  2. is a good helper,

  3. is polite,

  4. shares (or turn-takes),

  5. co-operates.

  • Ongoing behavioral concerns will be discussed with parents. If dangerous behavior continues and is hurtful to other children, the parent may be asked to remove the child from the program.

  • Staff of Noah’s Ark will not inflict or cause to be inflicted any form of physical punishment, verbal or physical degradation, or emotional deprivation. Nor will they deny, or threaten to deny, any necessity or use, or permit the use of any form of physical restraint, confinement, or isolation.

  • As a regular part of our curriculum throughout the year, we introduce the “We Thinkers” social-emotional concepts. Learning and language from this curriculum is also used to assist students in understanding and developing positive social/emotional competencies.

Parent/Guardian Involvement

To maintain reasonable fees, parents, guardians and/or others are required to volunteer in class approximately once every 6 weeks. A volunteer schedule/signup sheet will be posted on the bulletin board in advance of each month. Parents can choose a time that is most suitable. Staff may be in touch to help facilitate this or to offer alternative volunteering opportunities to families that this does not work for.

Parent/Guardian volunteer duties include:

  1. help with hand-washing,

  2. help with snack,

  3. general clean up duties including spraying and wiping all tables with a bleach solution, sweeping floors,

  4. general classroom assistance,

  5. various tasks as directed by teachers.

If/when you are Parent Volunteer, please be open to allowing the teacher to guide your child's behavior and implement behavior guidance policy.

Parents/Guardians must respect confidentiality of each child including behavior, behavior guidance, and progress. This also includes photos or video taken in the class. Please do not post any photos of children other than your own on social media or share without permission. Please pay attention to children who are in the background of photos you have taken of your own child(ren).

Parents/Guardians must respect all children regardless of sex, race, color, and/or religious beliefs.

Snack Policy

Noah's Ark Playschool is an Allergy Aware Space, and therefore all snacks must be Nut-Free. Below, you will find a list of foods that are suitable and healthy, along with a list of prohibited foods for this age group.

Licensing regulations require that snacks contain at least 2 of the 4 food groups.

Also, if you are planning to bring a snack for special occasions that all the children will share, please inquire first with the teachers as some children may have specific food allergies. You may be asked to include an ingredient list with any snacks that are brought to share.

Suitable Snack Ideas:

  • Fruit

  • Cheese

  • Vegetables (cut up)

  • Pudding

  • Bread

  • Rolls

  • Yogurt

  • Apple Sauce

  • Crackers

  • Rice Cakes

  • Dried Fruit

  • Meat

ALL NUTS AND NUT PRODUCTS ARE PROHIBITED

Additional Foods that are discouraged due to choking hazard:

  • Caramels & Toffee

  • Hard Candies

  • Chewing Gum

  • Popcorn

  • Jellybeans

  • Any snacks made with toothpicks or pointed skewers (blunted tips ok)

SNACKS WITH THE FOLLOWING PHRASES ON THE PACKAGE ARE NOT OKAY AND SHOULD NOT BE BROUGHT TO PLAYSCHOOL.

  • “May contain nuts or traces of nuts”

  • “Packaged in a facility that processes nuts”