Harris County has 2,917 licensed or registered childcare locations to meet the demands of the increasing number of working families in Houston, according to the latest Houston’s Need for Early Childhood Education report. Parents who send their children to daycare centers trust that these facilities will provide a safe, nurturing environment that promotes development and learning through positive feedback and discipline.
Sadly, there are some Houston daycare centers that cut corners when it comes to hiring and training caregivers. Instead of taking time to find well-trained, experienced candidates, they pick inexperienced or incompetent or, even worse, uncaring workers who could put children in harm’s way by using inappropriate discipline methods.
If you suspect your child has experienced inappropriate punishments, our Houston daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm can help you get the compensation your family deserves. We fight to get justice for families in cities across the Houston metro area: Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
How Inappropriate Discipline Methods at Daycare Centers Can Harm Houston Children
When Houston caregivers are not qualified or properly trained regarding discipline methods, innocent children can be seriously hurt.
Common injuries sustained by children from inappropriate discipline methods include:
- Dislocated shoulders or elbows caused by forceful yanking
- Starvation and dehydration when caregivers withhold food and water
- Bruises from hitting and slapping
In addition to physical injuries, inappropriate discipline methods can cause lifelong emotional trauma. Humiliation and verbal abuse directed at young children can belittle them, leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, and a negative self-image.
Instances of isolation and other inappropriate discipline methods at a Houston daycare center can manifest in children through behavioral changes, such as increased aggression, withdrawal from family activities or playing with other children, regressive behavior, and difficulty trusting other adults.
If you suspect that your child has been harmed physically or emotionally because a Houston caregiver is using inappropriate discipline methods, get a free consultation from our experienced Houston daycare injury layers by calling us at 281-857-6116 or filling out a contact form.
Guidelines for Safe Discipline Methods at Houston Daycare Centers
The state of Texas clearly outlines safety standards for all daycares in the state, including those in the Houston area, including age-appropriate discipline methods in its March 2023 Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers.
According to the standards, research shows that positive guidance, such as redirecting strategies, provides little ones with a better understanding of rules and helps them develop self-control and other positive behaviors. Therefore, Houston caregivers should use the following discipline tactics when a child misbehaves:
- Individualized and consistent methods
- Age-appropriate methods that a child can understand
- Teaching the child acceptable behavior and self-control
- Using praise and encouragement of good behavior
- Reminding a child of behavior expectations using clear, positive statements
- Redirecting behavior by using positive statements
- When needed, using brief supervised separation or time out from the group for no longer than one minute per year of the child’s age
Houston daycare centers are prohibited from using the following discipline methods on children of any age, as listed in the minimum standards for Texas daycare centers:
- Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment, which include rapping, thumping, popping, yanking, and flicking a child
- Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training
- Grabbing or pulling a child
- Putting anything in a child’s mouth
- Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child
- Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language
- Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet
- Placing a child in a restrictive device for time out
- Withholding active play or keeping a child who misbehaves inside during a recess or playground time
Our Houston daycare injury lawyers share more information to help educate parents about prohibited punishments at daycare centers in this video.
Houston parents can ensure caregivers at their child’s daycare center are complying with the state’s minimum standards by downloading our free guide 10 Tips For Finding a Safe Daycare.
Client Wins: How The Button Law Firm Has Held Daycares Accountable Following Inappropriate Discipline Incidents
Our daycare injury attorneys have helped many families hold negligent daycare centers accountable for using inappropriate discipline methods on children in their care. Read some of our success stories:
- Fort Worth Daycare Held Accountable for 3-Year-Old’s Elbow Dislocation
- BLF Attorneys Hold Abilene Daycare Accountable for Drugging 2-Year-Old Girl
- BLF Daycare Injury Attorneys Help Missouri Family Move Forward
- Family Gets Justice After Security Footage Caught Texas Daycare Worker Harming Son
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Houston Daycare Injury Lawyers
Our team of experienced and compassionate Houston daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child was harmed as a result of inappropriate discipline methods used by a caregiver at a Houston daycare center. With attorneys in Houston, we are ready to listen and fight for your family in Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.
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