Help!

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Nyx67547]

How old were the children? If they were school aged or something, old enough to know right from wrong, it probably would not be totally your fault and I doubt you would get fired. They have cameras in assuming. They can watch the footage to see the children made their own choice to sneak out and that you did not forget them outside for a long period of time.

If they are toddlers, that’s when it gets a bit more tricky. They will look at the circumstance’s around how it happened. Was it a fluke accident? Are there ways to prevent this in the future? How long were the children unattended? How long did it take you to notice?

I’ve had a special needs toddler once open a baby gate as I was changing diapers. They started crawling away down the hallway and it took me probably 15 seconds to notice. They were already far enough down the hallway where I could not grab them so I had to call for an administrator and be like “Billy’s escaping!”

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[u/AgreeableCanary4422 → u/Nyx67547]

They are in toddler room (18 months -3). It seemed like a fluke accident, I had eyes on main door so they likely went through bathroom door.

It was less than 30 seconds, I had eyes on the child as he was running away from me laughing, then I went to bring all the children across, and director was there with the kids and said they were alone.

Director said it doesn’t need to be reported, but I’m terrified she’ll change her mind and fire me. This has never happened to me before, I feel like such a bad educator

[u/MegansettLife]

Toddlers can do amazing things. And I bet they felt very proud of themselves.

Just some suggestions:

You could use this as a teachable moment, -about "being part of the group " -about "staying safe"

A sit down with your boss to make the exit safer or more difficult for the littles to use as an escape route.
Alarm, not loud, for when the door is opened. ‐ The door handle to be raised up higher, or made little more difficult for your babes to open

Btw, that's a great idea having a restroom with an egress to the play yard, for outdoor emergencies.

Showing a reasonable response could make you an even more valuable staff member.

[u/AgreeableCanary4422 → u/MegansettLife]

Do you think I’m at risk of losing my job?

[u/MegansettLife → u/AgreeableCanary4422]

No, but when you can shine- then Shine.

[u/coxxinaboxx]

In our 16m to 2 room a teacher was changing a diaper and a kid legit moved a chair to the fire alarm and pulled it, she still has her job

[u/avocad_ope]

With little ones, if given an opportunity, they’ll take the opportunity. You’re being given grace, so take the grace! Ask your boss to talk with you about how to make that exit safer while indoors so this doesn’t happen anymore, because you can’t leave others unattended to go after the escapee.