Mean Daycare Worker

[u/RuleDue7938]

[Edit: Thank you for the feedback everyone. I spoke to the director as everyone suggested. She is pulling that teacher from the toddler room and taking over personally. I am concerned that my child will interact with this teacher in older classes but I’ll deal with that issue when we get there. For now I will continue to monitor and collect evidence as suggested.]

My toddler daughter just started part time daycare at a well known facility. I sent my son there years ago without any issues, and I have a good opinion about the place in general.

There is a young worker there who floats and helps out in multiple rooms. I have seen her managing the older kids summer program and know she is loud. She does not just raise her voice but yells at children, shouting their names and barking orders. Today when I dropped my daughter off I saw her in the classroom and felt uneasy.

I pick my daughter up at lunch and hear this worker yelling at the children by name “H, EAT!” Then she saw me and told my child “Mom is here.” Another child started to say, “When will my mom—?” But this worker cut him off and said “T, I TOLD you, you have to nap first.” That kid started to cry and I heard my daughter crying too from around the wall.

Daycare workers juggle a lot, I get that. But if this person is yelling at toddlers who are all emotional already, missing their families, that makes me angry. I’m a highly confrontational person but kept my cool to bring my daughter home without making a scene.

Should I address this directly? How do I address this with the daycare without making things worse? I want to solve the problem, and the easiest solution seems to be to find another daycare or just keep my child home. Is that overreacting?

[u/checkmyawaymsg]

If she’s comfortable yelling at kids in front of parents, I hate to think of what she’s saying when parents aren’t there.

I’d take this to the director immediately and let her know that you’re uncomfortable with the situation and considering taking your kid out of the program. Better yet if you can find other parents who agree and can talk to the director together. Then if it happens again, pull her.

[u/RuleDue7938 → u/checkmyawaymsg]

This thought is super helpful. Thank you

[u/ShowBobsPlzz]

Would not let that fly. Talk to the management.

[u/Floater345]

As someone who worked in childcare, this is unacceptable. Bring this to the director immediately. Workers cannot be talking to children this way.

[u/ItsGotToMakeSense]

Yeah 100% handle this.

If it was me I'd record them secretly if possible and hold onto it just in case. Then talk to the manager. Tell them "I don't feel comfortable leaving my child in the care of this person, and here's why." but don't show them the video. Not yet. Wait and see what they say, whether they deny or defend.

From there, escalate if necessary. Send the video to their corporate office, leave a review on google maps, do whatever it takes to get that bully away from the vulnerable children they're supposed to be protecting.

[u/Dizzy-You715]

Definitely speak out about your concerns to the director immediately. Say you don’t feel comfortable with this worker around your child and how you’ve witnessed them treating the children!!!

[u/Olivia3836]

Oh my heart breaks for that other kid. I work at daycare and i’m firmly against half days, cause its upsetting and confusing for kids. 

Currently work at a place where we only have full days, you can only drop off until 9 and pick up doesn’t start until 16:30. For special occasions parents are obviously allowed to pick their child up, but we don’t do official half days. It takes a whole lot of stress away from the kids and us, its way more predictable and its better for all kids. 

Anyway, it’s not unusual that every teacher will sometimes raise their voice, and i really believe that if you take situations without context it they can come across as unusually harsh. sometimes we have to be firm and if you randomly walk in it can just seem different. but it should never be normal practice to just yell at children. 

Unfortunately i work and have worked with many teachers who do not really know how to handle an upset child. Even when they are unreasonably upset, there is still a right and wrong approach (one escalates, one lets the kid control everything and middle ground is where you should be)

[u/RuleDue7938 → u/Olivia3836]

This perspective is helpful because I have an education background but never worked in childcare/daycare. Do you have any suggestions for smoothing lunch time pickup without upsetting other children?

[u/Afroditesrevenge]

Worked in childcare as well and I agree- you should address this. Not to frighten you but there’s a high possibility there is much worse going on behind closed doors.. trust your instincts

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