Continuum of Guidance: OK or Not OK?

Reflection

Required

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ACTIVITY ID: 15946

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Certifier

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In a previous course, you learned about institutional abuse. You learned that abuse and neglect can occur in your program. For some people, it can be difficult to distinguish between practices that simply violate your program’s guidance policy and practices that could be abusive. In this activity, you will practice distinguishing between the two. Read each scenario and mark where you think it falls on the continuum. Discuss your answers and any questions on this activity with your trainer, coach, or administrator.

Scenarios	Acceptable Guidance	Violates Guidance and Touch Policy	Potential Abuse and Neglect
Donald makes a child throw away her snack as punishment for spilling food on the floor.		✔	If you see a pattern, this could be neglect.
Sherman approaches a child who is crying about getting hurt during a soccer match. He says, “You can choose to stop crying or be a wimp. Which do you want to do?”		✔	Shaming a child is potentially abusive. This is not the kind of choice that is consistent with positive guidance.
Suki tells a child that his mom won’t come pick him up unless he stops whining.		✔	Threatening a child is potentially abusive.
Charlize hits a child with her hand after he talks back to her.		✔	✔ Corporal punishment is never OK.
Two children walk away from the science experiment that Marshall has planned. Marshall decides to finish his explanation and start the hands-on portion right away.	✔
Felicity tells a child he should be ashamed of himself for wetting his pants.		✔	If you see a pattern of behavior, this could be emotional abuse.
Jaime got in trouble this morning. Denise keeps him inside and makes him sit on a chair while other children play outside.		✔
Two children are fighting. Hillary asks them to sit down, and she asks each to tell her their own side of the story.	✔ Hillary is beginning the mediation process.