Child Maltreatment, Prohibited Behaviors and Reporting

Prohibited behaviors for adults who are involved in child care

Caring for our Children (CFOC), a nationally recognized set of standards for health and safety in early care and education settings, provides guidance that programs must not tolerate any inappropriate, neglectful, or abusive behavior toward children from anyone involved in the program, including other children, staff, volunteers, or visitors.

Select each button for examples of prohibited behaviors.

Neglect, including denying access to basic needs, activities, or supplies

Using or withholding food or drink as a punishment or reward
Restricting physical activity or outdoor time, or taking away learning activities time as punishment
Restricting items that comfort a child or interfere with learning (e.g., pacifier, stuffed animal, sleeping supplies, toys, or education materials)

Any type of physical punishment or abuse

Hitting, spanking, shaking, slapping, twisting, pulling, squeezing, biting, or other acts that cause physical pain
Excessive physical exercise or excessive rest
Tiring or unusual postures such as kneeling on hard, painful surfaces
Withholding active play from children who misbehave (except for calming periods that are 5 minutes or less for out-of-control behavior)
Forcing or demanding physical touch from a child
Forcing or bribing a child to eat or put anything in their mouth (e.g., food, soap, spices)
Using food as a reward or punishment
Exposing a child to extreme hot or cold temperatures
Binding, tying, restraining any body part to any surface or equipment, or taping the mouth

In addition, using any medication to control the behavior of a children without medical instruction from the child’s health care provider and parental consent (e.g., medications that cause drowsiness such as melatonin or antihistamines is a sign of child maltreatment.

Any form of emotional abuse or attempt to humiliate a child

Isolating, confining, or containing a child where staff cannot see or supervise them
Toilet learning methods that punish, demean, or are excessively long
Inappropriate language that threatens, shames, or scares a child
Denying a child emotional comfort or support

Any form of sexual abuse

Pressuring or forcing a child into sexual acts (e.g., fondling, penetration, and exposing a child to other sexual acts)

It's also important that the adults who are seen by the children in the program model positive behaviors toward one another. Child care providers must not only understand what behavior is never allowed, or prohibited, but also have strategies and support to ensure that their behavior always prioritizes a child’s safety and well-being.

Questions for Action and Reflection

Do you know child maltreatment, neglect, and abuse are reportable offenses and that you are required to report to your local Child Protective Services?
Do you know that child care programs should never resort to neglect (i.e., ignoring or withholding needs), physical punishment, or abusive language?
Do you know that it should never be necessary to physically restrain a typically developing child unless the child’s safety or others’ safety are at risk?