1. (1) All staff of licensed and registered child care facilities must use guidance approaches appropriate to the child's age and developmental level to help children resolve conflicts, manage transitions, engage in challenging situations, or express feelings, needs, and wants.

   1. (a) Positive child guidance should include forming positive adult-child relationships, clear direction, showing positive alternatives, redirection, and setting expectations and clear limits that foster the child's ability to self-regulate.
   2. (b) All staff must model appropriate behaviors for children.

2. (2) All child care staff are prohibited from using abusive or physical punishment, including:

   1. (a) spanking or other forms of physical punishment;
   2. (b) shaking an infant or child of any age;
   3. (c) any punishment or discipline that is humiliating, shaming, frightening, or otherwise damaging to the child or their family; or
   4. (d) punishment for any toilet training issue.
3. (3) Parental or guardian permission does not allow for the use of any physical punishments or other approaches to discipline listed in (2).

Authorizing statute(s): 52-2-704, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 52-2-702, 52-2-703, 52-2-704, 52-2-713, 52-2-723, 52-2-725, 52-2-731, 52-2-735, 52-2-736, 53-2-201, 53-2-211, 53-2-212, 53-4-611, MCA

History: NEW, 2025 MAR, 37-1044, Eff. 5/1/25.