Does my child have to go outside every day?
What if I ask that my child stay indoors today?
What if my child is not dressed properly?
I don't like it when my child gets bitten. What will you do to stop this behavior?
Does my child have to go outside every day?
Health experts are unanimous on the importance of fresh air and the negative
health consequences of children spending too much time in closed, indoor
settings. If a child is well enough to be in the home base, the child is
generally assumed well enough to go outside. Except in extreme weather, children
are expected to go outside every day. The director or assistant determines
whether conditions are acceptable for outdoor play.
What if I ask that my child stay indoors today?
We usually have to say no. While we would like to individualize, staff-child
ratio rarely allow us to stay with one or two children while the group goes
outside. It is also often difficult for the staff to try and find another home
base that is staying in to care for the child (and may be uncomfortable for the
child).
What about my child's health?
We understand that parents naturally have strong feelings about keeping their
children healthy, which we share, but health experts agree that cool or damp
weather is rarely harmful to children, and going outside is essential.
What if my child is not dressed properly?
We will try and frequently remind you when your child is lacking something. We
know that things disappear, so we will also try and keep on hand extras for
those inevitable times when items disappear. The program depends on children
arriving with all the requisite clothing for a full active day, indoors and out.
I don't like it when my child gets bitten. What
will you do to stop this behavior?
Periodically, even in the best childcare program, outbreaks of biting occur in
infant and toddler rooms, and sometimes even among young preschoolers -- an
unavoidable consequence of young children in group care. When it happens it's
pretty scary, very frustrating, and very stressful for children, parents, and
teachers. However unfortunate, it is a natural phenomenon, not something to blame
on children, or parents, or teachers -- and there is no quick and easy solution.
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Regarding other situations . . .
Children bite for a variety of reasons . . .
The program accepts responsibility for biting and other hurtful acts and for
protecting children. It is our job to provide a safe setting where no child
needs to hurt another to achieve his or her ends. Here is what we do:
Some children become "stuck" for a while in a biting syndrome and it
is frustrating for the parents of the victims that we are unable to
"fix" the child quickly or terminate care. We try and make every
effort to extinguish the behavior quickly and balance our commitment to the
family of the biting child with that of other families. Only after we feel we
have made every effort to make the program work for the child, do we consider
asking a family to withdraw the child.
Moving upstairs to the big classes . . .
As children develop and mature, their dependence on adults begins to diminish
and they learn to adjust to group life. Higher ratios and group size are possible
without sacrificing quality in care and education. Yet there is a price:
The amount of one-to-one child/adult attention is reduced slightly which is
generally acceptable because the child's increasing self-help skills and newly
acquired social skills and interests take their place.
Separation anxiety . . .
The teacher's goal is to make each child feel welcome and comfortable as quickly
as possible. Note that the teacher's first priority is the incoming child and
children already involved with activities. As much as they would like, they
cannot spend undue time in conversation with the parent. Also, a parent
returning to the room during session may recreate separation issues for the
child already involved in an activity.
End of the day reunions . . . they love you best
At the end of the day, staff, parents, and children are all likely to be tired.
Children usually have had enough of being in a group. Parents no doubt like a
warm welcome from their child and a smooth and pleasant exit from the center.
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, this may not always happen. Children
are complex human beings. They often act as social scientists, using their
behavior to experiment with how the world works and their place in it. In the
process, they will both delight us and cause us concern. In this instance, one
thing is certain, you are the ones they love best -- they just have a funny way
of showing it.