Troubles with behavior

[WIDCMom]

I have been having trouble with a preschool child with their behavior. The child used to be a quiet cuddly inoscent child who never had to sit in time out and in the past week she has become a gnarly, sassy child who is constantly in time out. It started with just nap time issues. She would not want to lay down, so she started kicking and yelling at me while laying on her sleeping bag and causing troubles while laying down. Then after a few days of this she decided to start getting up and whipping her sleeping bag around the room. I continuously picked her up and put her back on her sleeping bag the whole time she is kicking and yelling. After a few days of this, she has now decided to get up and run around the daycare during rest time. Each time I pick her up now and lay her back down, she gives a fake cry while she is smiling. It seems like she is trying to see what will happen. I have tried ignoring her, I have tried offering special things to do if she lays nice, I have tried so many things and can not get anything to work. Mom told me last week that she was having troubles going to sleep at home last week as well but that over the weekend she was fine.

Today, Monday, the child was acting out all day- including starting hitting me. She continuously argued and yelled at me today when I told her she could not play with something or that it was time to put away. I am out of ideas and out of patience. Anyone have any ideas?

[daycare]

Is there something going on at home? Have you spoke to the parents yet about these issues that have all of a sudden come up?

are parents fighting?
change in her schedule?
having a sibling?
loss of a family or friend?

There has to be something driving the change in her behavior...... I think that you need to find out what that is first before you can move forward.

It is important that you communicate with the parents about what is going on.

Perhaps there is a situation that occurred that is the cause. I would be talking with the parents tonight.

[Country Kids]

I had one like this in the fall. It was the worst experience I think I had ever had with my childcare. The parents ended up bringing in a PNP for the child to be in for nap and then to use for timeout if needed. The child still uses it for nap but haven't had to use it for timeout for a long time.

We also realized this child was needing a bigger breakfast than just a granola bar so they are now having oatmeal here in the mornings. Also, alot of the behavior ended after Thanksgiving break and I think the child was just wanting some time with the parents. Both had the time off and when the child came back, they were a different child.