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First child spills milk. Okay, accidents happen (it was caused from her fooling around at the table while eating, though, and spilled drinks happen everytime we sit down for meal or snack because of playing around). While cleaning up the mess from first child, another child spills their milk. Okay, grab the towel again. But then that child takes the cup that got spilled and purposely dumps out the rest of the milk! The on-purpose cup dumper is almost 4 yrs old! So I'm kneeling down cleaning up and really getting after him, and he's smiling the whole time like he thinks its funny... I finish my little "lecture", go into kitchen to return the cup, and explain to the owner what's going on. She's not happy either (Same child had just been in there throwing a tantrum over something and didn't get his way, so she figures he was still mad over that and this was his way of "getting even"). I walk back to the table then and realize a mom is about to go out the door after picking her daughter up. I didn't know she was even there, or how long she was there before I saw her in the other room. She probably heard the whole thing with me getting after the almost 4 yr old and everything else. BUT she wouldn't have seen the reason. It probably looked to her like I was getting after a child for accidentally spilling their milk. The children were all really really wound up today and kept "forgetting" all the rules, so it was quite chaotic when she was there. I can only hope her 5 yr old daughter (who doesn't miss anything) explained to her what happend and why I was being so stern with the almost 4 yr old. The mom was out the door before I could say anything to her. I know I probably didn't sound very professional...
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If she says anything, then defend yourself. It is possible that she didn't even hear you. I'd also be willing to bet that the 5 year old could tell her mom what happened. Don't worry about it.
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I agree with Zoe. Until she says something, just shrug it off.
On that note, why not let "on purpose milk dumper" help clean up the mess? Here at my DC the kids help clean up the spill even when it was an accident no matter how young they are ... well ok, I won't make a 6 month old do it but even my own 13mo son gets a rag so that he can "help" clean up a spill he caused. When he helps it all gets smeared around more but at least he's learning to help clean up after himself.
If DCB does it alot even on accident maybe letting him help will teach him about cause and effect. If I spill milk, I have to help clean = not good to spill milk, I should be more careful.Comment
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I wouldn't worry about it.
I agree with MarinaVanessa, the dumper would be helping to clean up the mess.Comment
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when I have a frequent spiller, I only give them about one ounce at a time. If they spill it, then "so sorry, that's all you get" and its not much to clean up. If they drink it without spilling, then I give them a little more then a little more. Eventually they work their way back to the regular amount all at once.Comment
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I wouldn't worry about the parent picking up. You were not yelling and causing a huge scene because if you did you would be more worried about every child going home that day telling parents.
I would not be picking up the mess. If I see milk spill I will quickly tell the children back away from the table or give a fast warning so they don't get milk spilled on their clothes. I also say "Go get a towel and clean it up" then usually another child would offer to help. Not much milk is poured into cups, but it still can be a big mess.
I would only help with a mess if the child was too young (usually older children want to help before the provider should have to step in). I would ALWAYS help if it was a dangerous scene like creating a slippery floor where I may walk and forget. LOLComment
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Hopefully she overheard enough of what was being said to understand what was going on. As a parent who has "been there, done that", I would probably be laughing to myself, thinking, "Uh-oh! Somebody was being very naughty." I'd probably leave quietly with my child and not interrupt. Maybe that was what this mom was thinking, too?Comment
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I had something like this happen before too... Super awkward feeling.
I had the kids watercolor painting and this one girl who was really difficult, spilled the water completely on purpose all over the other kid's art work. I saw her do it while she had this evil little laugh.
I said "Why on earth did you do that? You messed up everyones artwork!" My tone was really peeved and mad sounding. I looked up and the mom to another child was standing right there in my doorway that I had just the screen closed. She was watching for who knows how long! I was so embarrassed because she heard me be stern with the other daycare kid.
I felt awkward for a day and then got over it. Those moments are super awkward though. I wouldn't worry about it though. I think sometimes as daycare providers we over think how the parents think of us
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Thank you everyone! The next day her daughter did not show up. No call or anything to explain. And at drop off she had said child would be there the next day. So my first thought was, "oh no! It's because of yesterday!" But it was actually because she'd forgotten there was no school (and her daughter doesn't usually attend when the schools are on vacation). She also dropped off her payment that day and was as friendly as usual, so I think you all were right. She either didn't hear, or she heard enough to know what was going on.
As for milk dumper, the children are usually expected to clean up their own messes (they love cleaning up drink spills and usually end up fighting over who gets to help clean it up). But since milk dumper did it on purpose, and the milk was traveling fast (
), I had to grab a towel and get it before it spread more (and he was a little too eager to clean it up himself. Makes me wonder if he did it on purpose so he COULD clean it up, since first child who spilled got to clean their's up).
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