- (1) When communicating or interacting with children, a school-age center must ensure staff maintain a climate for healthy, culturally responsive child development such as:
(a) Using a calm and encouraging tone of voice;
(b) Using positive language to explain what children can do and give descriptive feedback;
(c) Having relaxed conversations with children by listening and responding to what they say. Adult conversations must not dominate the overall sound of the group;
(d) Greeting children upon arrival and acknowledging their departure;
(e) Using facial expressions such as smiling, laughing, and enthusiasm to match a child’s mood;
(f) Using physical proximity in a culturally responsive way to speak to children at their eye level;
(g) Validating children’s feelings and showing tolerance for mistakes;
(h) Being responsive, listening to children’s requests and questions, and encouraging children to share experiences, ideas, and feelings;
(i) Observing children in order to learn about their families, cultures, individual interests, ideas, questions, and theories;
(j) Modeling and teaching emotional skills such as recognizing feelings, expressing them appropriately, accepting others' feelings, and controlling impulses to act out feelings;
(k) Being respectful of cultural traditions, values, religion and beliefs of enrolled families; and
(l) Interacting with staff and other adults in a positive, respectful manner.
(2) A school-age center must ensure staff encourage positive interactions between and among children with techniques such as:
(a) Giving children several chances a day to interact with each other while playing or completing routine tasks;
(b) Modeling social skills;
(c) Encouraging socially isolated children to find friends;
(d) Helping children understand feelings of others; and
(e) Encouraging interactions between children of all abilities.
Statutory/Other Authority
ORS 329A.280
Statutes/Other Implemented
ORS 329A.280
History
DELC 95-2024, minor correction filed 05/09/2024, effective 05/09/2024
DELC 140-2023, amend filed 12/06/2023, effective 01/01/2024
ELD 10-2022, temporary suspend filed 07/06/2022, effective 07/06/2022 through 12/31/2022
ELD 7-2022, adopt filed 07/01/2022, effective 07/01/2022