Why Can't Kids Just Be Kids Anymore???

[Oneluckymom]

The dcm of my DC toddler proceeded to ask me what her daughter is "taught" while here on a daily basis. "OOOHHH...here we go" I thought for a moment....of ALL I have read on here for months about this.

Seriously...she's a toddler!! So I explained that at her age I am teaching through play, that she is way to little for "formal instruction" (which is what I think mom wants). 19 mo old

She asked how high I have been counting....she wants all the way to 20 !!....OK

Can't kids enjoy playing instead of EVERYTHING revolving around how much they are "learning." Kids will naturally absorb everything as they go.

REally...what is the rush and what will the end outcome really be?

I have a feeling mom will eventually pull her out and put her somewhere else later on.

As mom left she remarked about how DCK is "taught" a lot at home that she has no time to play with her toys...but that she's bored with them anyway.:confused:

[littlemommy]

I've had parents make comments before about how much they teach their toddlers at home, but they usually don't ask me to do it. They know that we have certain learning activities that we do, but not on an everyday basis. I'm not a preschool teacher!

[SimpleMom]

I have had one parent who was very concerned about what their toddler was learning and such. She was kind. I did teach/do teach (even though my motivation is lacking somewhat these days)
You can teach her numbers through play

When I first enrolled my oldest child (yeaaaars ago) there wasn't much for pre-k in home childcare. I searched. Found ONE and it was mediocre at best. If what she wants is different than what you provide. No biggie. You're still a great provider Everyone has different needs/wants.

Personally, I like the education factor and I am an Early Chlidhood Educator doing Home Childcare--so it works for me. I'm not sure what I would look for if my own were in childcare. Probably, a small part of education--mostly through play and the home atmosphere until they were age 4yrs. I would then place them in a pre-k within their time at Home Childcare.

Hopefully, this DCM will be more or less easy-going for you!!

[kidkair]

My kids are just kids though I teach a lot through play and some of my 'play' may be considered too much teaching for some people but the kids have fun and that's what's important. Today my kids being kids decided to color all over the toy kitchen rather than the paper right next to the crayons.

[sharlan]

My kids are just kids though I teach a lot through play and some of my 'play' may be considered too much teaching for some people but the kids have fun and that's what's important. Today my kids being kids decided to color all over the toy kitchen rather than the paper right next to the crayons.

At least they played with the crayons. I've got two who refuse to color in any way, shape, or form. They will not use pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint brushes.

[daycare]

I had a DCM once pull her kid from my program because I refused to teach her child to read at age 2.

I teach zoo phonics and at that time I had 2 kids age 3 and 3.5 that had started reading. NOW that is odd, not always the case with all of the kids. NONE of my kids can read now and I am teaching them the same exact way as before.

So the mom wanted to know why the other kids were taught, but I would not teach hers...

UMMM he's 2........

The best part was that after she pulled him, I got an email about 3 months later telling me how she underestimated my program and wanted him to come back..


HAHAH NO!

[Meyou]

I don't do any preschool stuff so my parents wouldn't ask. I do let them put their children in a traditional preschool within my hours but they are responsible for picking them up and dropping them off here again. Most use grandparents for the preschool transportation.

This is the only reason I let kids leave and come back during the same day. They all go to the same preschool so it isn't really disruptive.

[countrymom]

At least they played with the crayons. I've got two who refuse to color in any way, shape, or form. They will not use pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint brushes.

wow, i constantly have to add more crayons or buy more glue or buy more paper. I've never seen kids who don't love to color. Shame on those parents. Its going to **** for them when they have to do projects in school, how are you going to explain that they don't do colors.

[daycare]

My kids are just kids though I teach a lot through play and some of my 'play' may be considered too much teaching for some people but the kids have fun and that's what's important. Today my kids being kids decided to color all over the toy kitchen rather than the paper right next to the crayons.

sorry, maybe I misunderstood. the kids colored all over the toy kitchen??

[kidkair]

sorry, maybe I misunderstood. the kids colored all over the toy kitchen??

Yep! I was helping a 3 in the bathroom and the 2 and 1.5 year olds were coloring on paper then transitioned themselves to the toy kitchen. The look on their faces was priceless when the 3 year old yelled at them! I laughed and redirected them. I then got out my magic eraser and cleaned it all up.

[kidkair]

At least they played with the crayons. I've got two who refuse to color in any way, shape, or form. They will not use pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint brushes.

Yep they love to color and scribble over everything. Do your kids like to get their fingers messy? I've used sand, shaving cream, and finger paints as a way to introduce drawing/scribbling to those who don't like holding the drawing 'tools'.

[daycare]

Yep! I was helping a 3 in the bathroom and the 2 and 1.5 year olds were coloring on paper then transitioned themselves to the toy kitchen. The look on their faces was priceless when the 3 year old yelled at them! I laughed and redirected them. I then got out my magic eraser and cleaned it all up.

oh, I thought you were saying that you LET them color the kitchen......
I was going to say..NOW that's free choice for sure....

[cheerfuldom]

i would add to your contract about your "teaching" policy and direct parents back to that when there is questions.