New York Day Care Centers – Discipline – Is Corporal Punishment Prohibited in New York Child Care Centers?

By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

New York day care and child care centers are regulated by the New York Office of Children and Family Services. Pursuant Section 418-1.9, Discipline, New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), child care centers are prohibited from using corporal punishment for discipline or any reason whatsoever. The New York child care center regulations define corporal punishment punishment directed directly on the body. What does corporal punishment include? It includes spanking, biting, shaking, slapping, twisting, or squeezing the child. It also includes the requirement of excessive physical exercise or forcing or requiring the child to remain in an uncomfortable or bizarre position. Forcing the child to eat certain foods like spicy foods is also a form of corporal punishment.

Unfortunately, many New York child care workers either do not know these laws or just choose to ignore them. In New York and most other States, corporal punishment in any form just does not have a place in a child care center / day care center.