My son will be two next month. Right now he is at a daycare center and he's in the toddler room until her turns two. Two weeks ago, the lady in charge approached me and said that my son has really outgrown the toddler room and they have been letting him "visit" the two year old room and he's doing really well and would like to move him up full time. I agreed. Last week was his first full week there...One teacher said he was doing good, another said he cried a lot during the day with the different routines when we was tired - understandable. This week they both said he was doing good. Yesterday, i was approached again and told that they have an opening in the toddler room again and they are going to move my son back down because he really shouldn't be in the two room because he's not two. Alright - I guess. I called the lady in charge and spoke to her about being concerned about this because I don't want him have to "re-adjust" again in 4 weeks when he turns two. She stated he would still be spending 2 hours per day in the 2's room. I'm wondering why there was "such a rush" to move him up and then all of a sudden there's an "opening" and he's being brought back down. I feel like they are not being honest with me. That's one problem... The next problem is this... I don't really have a "great" feeling about the afternoon teacher, she's young, she seems very inexperienced and she's not very friendly. I have literally picked up my son and she has not said one word to me unless I speak to her first. In the mornings he goes to a "room" since he's dropped off before his main teacher gets there and the women in this room seem to act like I'm putting them out by dropping him off...again, they barely say hello or even hello to my son - when they do call him by the right name. I really liked the toddler room and the teachers and I really like the 3 year old teachers - they are so organized...but this two room I'm not so confident on.
So...my question is do I stick it out for the next 4 weeks and see how he does when he moves into the 2 room permanantly and see if things change or should i start to look elsewhere?
Help... My husband and I are torn on what to do or if we're just over-reacting to things - especially since we feel they had a chance to get a "new" toddler but needed to move one out and picked my son, and then the new one fell threw and they moved him down - without much concern on his adjustments.
I would definitely look elsewhere. When it comes to my kids, I would not tolerate the dishonesty, the attitude and the other concerns that you brought up.
I used to work for a big daycare and this kind of thing happened routinely. They are probably not being totally honest with you. They may have enrolled too many toddler and needed to move your son out since he was closest to turning two. When the numbers went down again in the toddler room, they moved him back. Technically, if he was under two and in the two year old room, the ratio in that room should have been lowered to 5 students to 1 teacher, as you go according to the age of the youngest child. If I remember correctly, the ratio is 8 children to 1 teacher for two year olds. I'm sure there are exceptions, but a lot of big daycares are all about the numbers, not the children. Often teachers or children are moved around, so it can be difficult for parents to get full reports on their children's day.
Often children will do better with the consistency of a GOOD home daycare setting, especially while they are very young. I have been doing home daycare for a number of years and, although large centers may work for some, if my children were still small I would probably look for an individual I felt comfortable with and go for the smaller setting. Hope this helps.
I agree with some of the previous posters. They are most likely moving your son since they have ratios they need to keep. By moving children to match the ratios they can limit their staff. While as a business woman I see the point in this when it comes to children it is not acceptable. Kids need consistency. If he is not adjusting easily to the changes then it should not be occuring. Also, I am concerned that no one is acting excited when you drop him off or pick him up. They should call him by name in the mornings and make him feel special. They should also do the same when you come to get him. At least tell you something about his day.
I would say if you are not getting warm fuzzies then you may want to consider switching.
Part of my business is helping families find appropriate day care options for their children. This service is free to mamasource members. If you want to receive my Daycare Tour Guide email me and I can send it to you.
I own a foreign language school that works with many daycares. I can also help you match with one that fits your needs if want.
Good luck!
P.
____@____.com
I worked in a daycare center for 6 years and they may not be being totally honest with you. There are laws about teacher-to-student ratio and they may have been trying to solve a numbers problem by moving kids around and since your son was the oldest in the toddler room they chose him.
To be honest, age is just a number and the daycare center should be following their age guidelines but they should also take into consideration a child's development. There was nothing wrong with moving your child up if he was ready.
It sounds like maybe the adjustment was too much...although they needed to give it more time. Once he was up they should have left him there...eventually he would have adjusted.
My guess (and this is just a guess) the two-year old teacher was being lazy and didn't like how your son's adjustment was affecting her class. So she probably pushed to have him moved back down...like 4 weeks is going to make a difference! The fact that the teachers said he was doing well...teachers almost always say that.
The two-year old room takes a very special person to run it and not all teachers can handle it. I'd say it's the hardest room in daycare. It's not an excuse to ever be rude to a parent, but honestly the twos can wear you out! A young teacher could just be a bit overwhelmed and worn out. Just like your son will adjust, so will she.
My advice is to let them put your son back down to the toddler room but maybe ask if they can move him over more than 2 hours a day. Perhaps he can do mornings in the toddler and afternoons after nap in the 2-year old room. There's nothing else you can really do except change daycares.
Hope that helps!
S.,
I would love to know which daycare you have your son in. I am having such similar issues with my own kids (they are 4 yr. old twins) and their daycare. I am soooo disappointed in the communication (or should I say lack of communication between their teacher and myself). I can barely get their teacher to say hello to me when I drop the kids off, and she's not there in the evenings. I had a meeting with the teacher as well as the director regarding my concerns but it was like they didn't care... I was appalled and I am now looking for a new daycare. Believe me you are not overreacting AT ALL. I believe it is very, very important to have a strong, good relationship with the teacher who is teaching and with my kids all day. You have to. The teacher obviously didn't feel having a close relationship was important so I am on the hunt for a new daycare. Good luck to you!
having worked in numerous daycare centers I can tell you that it's all about staffing. They had to move him around cause of staffing. Then I bet the state came to visit and they got nabbed for ratios when he was in that room cause he is still under 2 and the ratio would have to be lower if he is in there. Or maybe he really was ready to move up but then they got nabbed.
Either way you have concerns about specific things - greetings at the start and end of the day, interactions with teachers and communication. Bring your list of concerns to the director and listen to what she has to say. Come up together with a plan on what will work for your child.
Sounds like you have a lot of the same responses...the numbers game. Ratio and trying to balance the teachers. I have that A LOT at my daycare...and it does bug me. But it is encouraging to know that other daycares have the same issues and go through the same things. One thing I have found about daycare, is that if you have a problem with the way something is being handled or done, give it a week and see if it is still going on and bugging you, then bring it to the director. I found a lot of times my concerns were just about one specific day, whether it was me or the teachers, but if it is something happening every day, consistently, talk to the director, bring up your concerns and possibly consider another school. Changing schools is always a difficult situation especially for a 2yr old who has made some friends, but if it is for the wellbeing of the child and the comfort of the parent...would be so worth it in the longrun. Good luck!
S., I hope that your daycare isn't mine. However, I've been with Lil Dreamer's Daycare on 75th by Total Furniture since my first daughter was 6 weeks old (5 1/2 years ago) they treat my girls like their own. If you are looking to switch, I would recommend them. They have had their ups and downs in the past few years but are geniunely good to my girls (I also have a 1 year old). If you would like to take a tour, please give then a call and tell them G. sent you. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Hi
We were faced with similar issue when my daughter was 22 month. Me and my hubby did get good vibes while talking to teachers. She was being moved to another room every evening a the toddler room teacher could saty there only till 5:00 pm and we needed to pick her at around 5:30 pm. WE never were told how was her day and how wsa her mood during the day.
Then in morning no one said hello tp us unless we open our mouth. After couple of weeks our daughter started to cry when we drop here and also when we picj her. It wsa like her saying dont leave me here.
We decided to sitch as talking with teachers and the warden inothing changed. My daughter is three and very happy and exceited when we drop her and is not ready to leave when we pick her up. I will suggest talk to director or the main teacher see if it helps. Takes clues from your kid do you think his reactions are happy?
Its tough when its your kid and you do not knwo if you are putting him in right hands. I have been there and hope you find teh resolution soon.
V.
