What You Can Do to Prevent Suspensions and Expulsions

• Choose a licensed, quality child care program. 
• Research shows that programs with smaller class sizes, lower adult-child ratios, and more support to help teachers manage puzzling behavior have lower rates of suspensions and expulsions. 
• Licensed child care programs in Colorado have resources to help providers positively respond to children and address concerning behaviors. Visit the What Kind of Child Care is Right for Me and My Child page to learn more about finding child care for your child. 
• If you are worried that your child might be having a hard time in child care, talk to your pediatrician or ask your provider if one of Colorado’s Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists can help. 
• To learn more or to request a consultation, please contact the Department of Early Childhood at 1-303-866-5948 or 1-800-799-5876. Ask to speak to the Early Childhood Mental Health Program Manager. 
• Talk with your child’s provider often.
  • Sometimes it’s hard for parents and child care providers to check in regularly. However, when parents and providers have open and frequent communication, we can address behavior concerns as a team.
  • Families and providers both want to create positive environments for children so that they can learn and thrive. When parents and providers work together as a team, they can find ways to positively support a child’s strengths and challenges. 
• Work to understand what your child is trying to tell you.
  • Children communicate what they need and how they feel through their actions. When we understand children’s needs, we can positively address those needs together.
  • It’s important to rule out a physical cause for the behavior. It’s possible that a child has health issues that impact their behavior, or maybe they are tired, hungry, or stressed.
  • As adults, it’s also important that we think about our own actions and how we might contribute to a child’s behavior.
  • Click here to download a print-friendly PDF: Preventing Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Childhood Programs.