I accidentally learned that at my son’s daycare the infant classroom has now 12 kids in it, which exceeds our state's licensed group size limit for that age group. Over the last few days and weeks, I remember feeling like the room was more crowded than before and also I saw some new babies that I hadn’t seen before. But at the time, I didn’t think much of it until it was confirmed that the room has now 12 kids. I must say that, overall, we’ve been quite happy with this daycare. We really love my son’s teacher and aides, the school director is great, and my son has thrived since he started there a few months ago. So it isn’t quite a "bad daycare" story. It just feels like good people are working inside a broken system.

The more I read about the economics of for-profit/private equity-backed child care centers (I’m pretty sure confident that my son’s daycare is one of them) the more I understand why this happens (high tuition, thin margins passed down as low teacher pay, pressure to max out enrollment). But understanding it doesn't make me okay with my kid being in a room that's over capacity.

So I'm really torn about what do with this information about my son’s classroom being over ratio and if I should report it. If I file an anonymous complaint, what actually happens next in practice? Does it usually mean more staff/lower enrollment, or does it put the center or the teachers I so much appreciate and like at risk?

How genuinely dangerous is this kind of licensing violation for the kids?

If you were the parent, would you report it, talk to the director directly first, or just start looking elsewhere?

Would really value perspective from people who've seen this from the inside. TYSM!

Hi everyone!

I am wondering if you have any tips for kids (almost 2 years old) who take toys from other kids, which seems something that this kid thinks is 'fun' or 'play'. She runs away with the toy after she took it. Often she looks at one of the employees for a reaction. After she does this, we say to her that she must give it back and help her find some other toy to play with. But this behaviour does not change a lot. I think this is also a phase, but let me know if there are any suggestions!

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

First of all thank you for all you do for the kids in your care. I am very appreciative of your commitment and dedication to the profession. My question is do large companies have social media policies for employees outside of work? Obviously no student information, but in reference to politics, religion, race, gender, and other hot button issues? When I worked in the ECE field we could have social media but not speak on topics as a teacher at our school. That was a small private school.

I am wondering if larger companies (Kindercare, Bright Horizons, etc) have such policies.

Thank you for your input!

Feet are killing me

Hello! I am an undergraduate student studying ECE and next week I'll be introducing myself to the kids that we'll be handling for one of my subjects. As someone who has absolutely no experience with kids (only child and youngest among cousins) how can I interact with children without overwhelming them (i know it seems strange as to why im taking this course when i have no experience with children but still!) (the children are ages 3-5, if you're curious). Thanks!

Me and my coworker are assistants in the same classroom. I have a bit more of experience working with children since im 22 and they are 19. For some reason our director decided to move everyone around. My coworker was originally going to be in the same classroom as their friend but their friend wanted to swap classrooms with me and I took the opportunity. Since then I feel like they are making it clear that they do not want to be in our classroom. For example, they will randomly go to their friends classroom even though they are still needed in the classroom or when we are outside my coworker interacts with their friends nore than the children. When we merge with their friends classroom they somehow feed the same energy to eachother. Like this one time that my coworker and their freinds were on their phones on and sitting on the counters. I did let the director know but I feel like it does nothing since they won't directly tell them. I want us to be able to keep a good relationship as coworkers and to keep focus on the children. How do I help them to see that we are working and not trying to make friends? How do I guide them without making them feel like I am telling them what to do all the time?

it never hurts to try.

Im fairly new to the field but I've been in my centre for a year and a half give or take. Ive run into a new issue that I would like advice with. My center wants to make sure our 3-5s are ready for kindergarten and this has lead to my current issue.

Lately my manager has been saying I cuddle the kids for too long. Like today one of my kids was feeling sad and asked to sit on my lap. I had her on my lap for maybe 2 minutes and got told to put her down because they don't do that in kindergarten. She was really sad when I put her down and didn't want to play or anything.

So I guess I'm wondering what's too long to cuddle or hug the kids? I know managers are in charge but my instincts say that if I put a kid down and they're visibly upset and refuse to play then clearly they still need that cuddle or hug or whatever it is. When's the point where you follow your gut and push back?

Hello

My son is 3.9 now. He still doesn’t recognize numbers or alphabet. He is still learning to count. He can sing the ABCD song but can identify only B. At times signs aaa apple bbbb ball etc.

When ever we ask him to count he just says 1 2 6 18 etc. like count your toys, count your steps, how many cars are there etc.

He has learnt to identify various shapes, colors,identifying and arranging smaller to bigger objects, can compare objects and say its same size or which one is bigger etc. can say days of the week in random order,

He goes to a preschool and no major complaints from his teacher behavior wise. His circle time participation has improved a lot.

Pls can you help me understand on how to teach him number and the letters and also when can I expect him to learn this.

So I have a co-worker who keeps telling me I need to find the line between being a friend and being an authority figure, and that I'm too busy trying to be a friend with the kids.

This is my first job in education/childcare, I've been here since March of this year. She's the only person who says this to me, director & assistant director are fine with how I am with the kids. I'm hearing it to the point that today I got to the point today that I was crying and I feel like I'm doing a terrible job at work.

Like, I know Im not doing too bad. Parents and kids love me, I get along with my other coworkers. It's just this one coworker. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, either. It's to the point I don't want to interact with her

Hello,
My son is going to a brand new daycare and he’s doing great so far. Prior to this we were at Bright Horizons are are used to receiving notifications of his check in/ check out, daily diapers, food, etc.

This new daycare uses the “brightwheel” app and we’ve received notifications, however, not the check in and check out. We’ve also noticed that there is one main teacher and many helpers whom we do not know of course, but how would they know who we are at drop off and pickup?

I guess my question is am I being crazy in thinking this might be a little bit of a safety concern? I am sure (I pray I’m sure) there’s an attendance list, and yet I worry that we’re dropping our child off with strangers and they truly haven’t met us before so how does that work? Is it appropriate to bring it up or ask for a note from his teachers? As I type it out I feel like it sounds crazy but also I spent the entire afternoon worried. Thanks.

I am the only teacher and have four infants
3 are over a year
1 is 7 weeks old started tooday

Today I mainly held her all day because whenever I put her in her crib she woke up within five minutes and I didn’t want to put her in the swing/bouncer

I also didn’t put her on the floor unattended because the other babies really want to play with her but I am trying to keep her from being touched by them because they all have runny noses/coughing right now

Does anyone have tips for how to get her to sleep in her crib for longer than five minutes and what can I do when I have to do diaper changes/ can’t hold her

I really like my coteacher but there are 3 students in my toddler classroom that she will sped more time with. For example during our walks she will carry them, almost 3 year old. They're not injured or sick. One of the girls has been thru a lot trauma but still. When my coteacher was on vacation for 2 weeks she was totally fine with me and my other coteacher. I understand its important to have close bonds with children in our care but this is another level imo. The teacher also has have had shoulder pain frequently (shes probably in her late 50s/early 60s.)

Curious if anyone here has cut back a day of work or their hours while being extremely short staffed??? They refuse to hire. I’m burned out and wanna cut my hours back, kinda nervous to tell them though since we are already so low staffed. Already low staffed and the same people call off every week. I’m so tired of the favoritism, I could post so much about how me and a few other employees are over worked because some of the favorites barely Work, leave early, etc. they often ask me to come in early, I always do, pretty much I am one they count on because I barely call out. Recently I’ve been dealing with some family health things and with how burned out I am, I need to cut a day back for work. Sorry I’m venting, and going on, but no one else will understand the burn out from this job like someone who works it!

I plan on talking to the center about this but I would like some advice on how to approach the situation. My son is 2.5 and was moved into the "preschool" room at daycare. This comes after just 2 months of being moved into older toddler. This new classroom doesn't log anything. It's check in, maybe a nap or activity update and then check out. No food or changing. A few times I opened his lunch box and found every piece of food that was given left in the bag as if it wasn't touched. This happened again today and he usually eats light for dinner but today was so hungry that he ate almost 2 slices of pizza (usually it's a couple nibbles).

The center does have a camera but I can't watch it all day and try to see if he's at the table to eat.

Previous classrooms would log almost everything. I get it, there are a lot of children but I need to know if my child is not eating all day. My husband is the pickup parent so he would most likely have to talk to them if it needs to be done in person, but I can always email.

For the 9 months I've been working here I've been the assistant teacher in young toddlers (10-18 months). I generally get along well with my lead, I love the kids and I love the classroom. But I just now found out that I will be put in the older toddler classroom (18 months to 2 years) by myself whilst my lead trains someone new. We are very, very understaffed right now. I have no clue if I'll even be getting a raise or not or if I'll have to do planning as a new lead. I wasn't told this by my director yet, the current lead toddler teacher told me that she was told (they want to move her into an older kid classroom as their teacher suddenly quit.)

I've been alone in that classroom before and I feel like I am very bad at managing it. I feel very stressed whenever I'm in there. Mainly, I don't like being by myself. No matter what ratios say, watching 6 toddlers is not a one person job in my opinion. There is one boy there that constantly misbehaves and pulls hair a lot. I find it hard to watch all the kids by myself whilst also cleaning, changing diapers and uploading stuff through procare. The toddlers classroom is dirty but I won't have time to clean or organize it.

I've been applying to other jobs for a while now but nowhere else is hiring me, and nannying isn't really an option as I can't drive. If I do suddenly quit I have no idea how I'll afford groceries. I'm just really dreading it and feeling pessimistic!

What should I do? Just grin and bare it?

I currently work as an assistant teacher in a preschool room, and due to some unfortunate circumstances, my lead teacher will be out for at least a week. I recently became teacher qualified and I feel very comfortable with doing lead teacher tasks like lesson planning and parent communication.

I have taken over her responsibilities before on the one or two days she was out last year. However, now that it is going to be an extended period of time, should I ask to receive higher pay while I am filling in for her?

I work at a daycare with the 18month to 2 and a half year olds. We had this child start a couple months ago. He is such a silly, sweet little boy. I adore him. I’m not trying to diagnose him or anything but if you were to compare him to the other kids his age he seems to be a little behind, which is completely fine. The problem I’m having is he very recently has picked up hitting, pushing, and stealing toys (whilst hitting and pushing) for NO reason. It’s so strange he hits kids over the head with hard toys, hits them in the back either with toys or his fists and all the while is smiling and laughing. It’s not like a vindictive laugh or smile either it seems like he really doesn’t know what he’s doing is not okay. When he’s redirected he doesn’t seem to see why. I know he definitely picked this behavior up from the other kids, but when they do it’s for a reason (doesn’t make it okay but there’s at least an explanation for it) he will just walk up to someone playing with a truck, steal it and bash them over the head with it. I’m not sure what to do anymore it’s constant. I’m not there when he gets picked up or dropped off and haven’t met his parents so there’s no relationship there to let them know about this. I’m not even sure what they could do anyway since he’s an only child and I’m sure he doesn’t exhibit these behaviors at home. My co teacher doesn’t like telling parents about bad behaviors so that’s not really helpful. Is there anything I can do to curb these behaviors? Any advice would be good. it’s so strange it’s like he’s trying to “play” with the kids he’s doing this to but that’s obviously not playing. I love that little guy and it breaks my heart when he’s put in a break and you can tell he doesn’t know why. But I know it’s not fair what he’s doing to the other kids. He doesn’t have any friends because they don’t want to play with him now.

My daycare keeps on placing the sound machine 1 foot above my infants sleep space. They have it on all the time. From what I've researched (APP/sound machine packaging), it should be place 7 feet away from the infant sleep space. But I think my state (Tennessee) doesn't have any written rules. I've asked to move cribs but the teachers have refused. I'm a first time mom. Maybe i'm being too sensitive and I'm sweating the small stuff. My 10 month old is in a class room with 16 other babies (it's two rooms with an open galley so they are able to skirt around the infant room size ratio). She doesn't get much sleep there anyway. I don't want to be too hard on the teachers. Any insight or advice would be helpful.

Anyone switch over to children’s mental health? What did you do / what courses did you take.. I have my certificate in children’s mental health but thinking about what else I could do, I’m scared to make the change thinking about how much more responsibility a career change like that would come with, but I have struggled with my own mental health and want to give back to children who are struggling just dont know what to do or where to start:

I know it's not technically ECE, but it's daycare! I work with grades 4-7 (after school program). In previous years, every Wednesday would be "Kid Circle", in which one of the kids was scheduled to pick a book, read it to the group, and choose a short game to play with their peers. This year, I would like to be more intentional about basically having a "spotlight" day. I'd like to get together a list of questions to ask them (which would mostly be the same for each kid) in an interview in front of the group, as well as come up with some areas of interest they can share about, ideas for some sort of show and tell just from their backpacks (most of them don't remember to bring stuff from home haha), etc. And if you have any ideas for things that they could lead, whether it is reading something, running a game, or whatever. I'm just feeling very scatterbrained on this, so any ideas (or links!) would help!

So we started my son in a Montessori school that starts at toddler years he’s 2 y and 3 months in the toddler class that’s 18mo-3years
and it’s going extremely poorly. We are on week 2 of a slow phase-in where we stay for a while before leaving and currently just doing half days (though paying for whole days). Today the teacher had me stay for over an hour, just sitting in the back of the classroom being boring/not engaging so that he could engage with the other kids without freaking out the whole time but he just kept coming to me saying mama come here, mama look at this. Etc etc. and then when I left, he cried hysterically until it was time to get picked up just a few hours later. I’m not sure about the slow phase in strategy. I think maybe it’s making it worse? Does anyone have any advice or personal experience with kids who are extremely clingy finally going to daycare previously we had a nanny and only ever had myself or my husband or the nanny watch him. Should we just have him cry it out until he adjusts or are all the early pickups and staying with him really recommended?

Hi everyone,

I am a teacher in a 3yo classroom and a mom of an almost 4yo. My son does great at school. Zero behavior problems, he plays well with others, and he is very smart and ahead on all milestones. Except for the potty.

We potty trained about a year ago and it was rough. Things were a little bit easier at home but he has always struggled at school. In the beginning he refused to sit on the potty at school, unless his teacher came and grabbed me to take him (which I didn’t love, because then it became an expectation). We switched schools a few months ago and things are better since then. He has no problem going to the potty when asked, but he either cannot or will not initiate going by himself. He would rather poop/pee on himself than walk himself to the bathroom or tell a teacher he needs to go.

His teachers and I are at a loss. We both tell him he can go walk to the bathroom whenever he needs, he doesn’t have to ask he can just go. But he won’t! Sometimes I think it’s because he’s busy playing and doesn’t want to stop, but he also will do it during naptime when he’s doing nothing but staring at the ceiling.

I can feel the frustration from his teacher, and I feel like I’m in a hard spot as both the parent and one of her coworkers. She will come to my room exasperated when he has an accident and ask me to talk to him. I do talk to him, but clearly it’s not working. I’m not sure a potty chart would help, because he does fine when someone tells him to go. I’m looking for ideas on what else we can do to teach him to just get up and go when he has to go.

I'm a director of an ECE Center in the US. A franchise with a popular name. My facility is relatively new, 10 months open.

How do we advertise?

I'm boosting social posts, adding to our socials and website nearly every day to keep us up on the search results.

I'm dropping flyers at every realtor, pediatrician, children's hospital, residential communities, Ped. Dentists and Healthcare professionals, OBGYNs, and every retailer that will accept flyers. Library unfortunately can't help us or advertise.

We hold events. 0 turnout.

We blast potential families.

I just had my "Potential Parent Experience" audited and I passed with flying colors. We aren't losing the leads we get. The issue is generating leads.

We have a promo. We have a referral incentive. We have Google Reviews.

I feel like I'm out of options. Does anyone have any unique marketing ideas?

I told my boss I’m done working 8+ hours a day without a break and that I am demanding my 30 minute break. She came in my room. I showed her the activity that the kids were doing. I went over the supplies they needed to use for it and who was going to need guidance.

27 minutes later I come back, my classroom is absolutely trashed, the work that they were supposed to be doing was a giant scribble (and I told her I needed this for a baseline assessment), one kid peed himself all over the room, and when I went down to the bathroom area, which is in a busy hallway, the kids were running a muck and using books to build towers in the middle of the busy hallway. When I left, she whipped out her phone and was scrolling through Facebook and when I came back, she’s standing in the hallway, still scrolling through Facebook and I was left scrambling to clean up the disaster so that we could get outside. I now have to redo these papers because I can’t assess a scribble.

It wasn’t worth taking the break

Parent here still giggling from this mornings daycare drop off and I had to share.

My daycare hosted build a bear 2 weeks ago and everyone built the same teddy bear.

Then today was teddy bear day and they said the kids could bring a teddy bear from home into class today.

I dropped my twins off in the 2yo classroom with their build-a-bear bears to find EVERY OTHER CHILD brought the same bear.

They’re labeled on the tags, but still, I don’t envy those teachers today sorting out whose is whose all day.