It Hit Me Like A Ton Of Bricks!!!!

[Country Kids]

I've been battling the behaviors of my group for over a year now. I suddenly just figured out what its like for me every day and if anyone can help please do!

I believe, believe, believe in routine. We do pretty much the same thing day in day out. This week I changed it somewhat to see if that helps, we are still seeing-.

So, the majority of the kids come in and have to be retrained everyday!!!! Its like its their first day (every single day). Not a shy, quiet first day but I'm staking my territory first day. I can't believe it took me this long to put my finger on it. Instead of having to work with one child on this, its 4+ a day with this behavior. Every single day they walk in and act like they do not know the rules and how to behave.

What would cause this? Any ideas? Like I said we are routine, routine, routine. They all pretty much have scheduled daily routines at home from what I pick up in conversations from parents. I don't ask right out because I want to here what they do without directness.

I can't believe I just put my finger on it! Now to figure this out!

[daycare]

SOmetimes routine gets old and boring. this could be the cause

I try to change it up and if I do change it and don't see a positive response, I move on until I do.

I also made a physical chart showing what will happen next to help the children transition. I have lot of kids that have trouble with this. Give warnings.
Ok class we have two more minutes with the blocks and then we are going to clean up. Then one min, then I ring the bell. Ok, lets clean up so we can paint.

Or you can say are you guys ready to paint? Ok, so then lets clean up all of the blocks.


How are you with your discipline? do you have the same follow through each and every time? Do you nip it right away or wait?

[Country Kids]

Nip it right away. I run a tight ship!!!!

One of mine still has trouble picking up toys. This is a daily thing and makes it hard to transition to an activity if they have had some playtime. Today, the child couldn't go to lunch until they picked up some toys. They seriously could have cared less. They would rather go to time out then pickup!

[daycare]

Nip it right away. I run a tight ship!!!!

One of mine still has trouble picking up toys. This is a daily thing and makes it hard to transition to an activity if they have had some playtime. Today, the child couldn't go to lunch until they picked up some toys. They seriously could have cared less. They would rather go to time out then pickup!

Was it a lot of toys to have to clean up? I have made centers. This way if you can only make a small mess. I would have let the kids go to lunch, but then when lunch was over they would have had to clean them up.

Ok everyone lets all help out and clean up. If they say no, then you say ok heres your choice. Would you like to clean up or take a nap? Let them decide.

If they didn't clean them up, then they would be there when they woke up.

When they wake up, you say who would like to paint or something fun? Ok well, if you want to paint then you need to clean up the blocks. I want to paint with you and have some fun so please make a good decision and go clean up the blocks.

[wdmmom]

My kids know how my daycare operates and how I operate.

If I had to retrain kids daily on rules, they would be receiving termination papers.

Redirection is one thing and if they are throwing fits at the door, that's where I would put the kabosh on it.

Have the parents stay outside the threshold and pass the child in the door. Kisses and hugs must be done outside before they knock or ring the bell.

DCK comes in, hangs up coat, and can either free play or sit at the table and wait for other friends to come before having breakfast.

There is just no way under the sun I would invest the time and energy you are in retraining each day. I would suggest a conference with the parent or if it's every child, send home a newsletter home indicating the changes you are going to make to better suit the daycare.

List the issues you are having with the children and encourage parents to help enforce the same rules at home.

Try a chart so the kids can see their progress as well. If they are good Monday through Friday, let them pick a prize out of the treasure chest. (You can go buy little inexpensive things at the dollar store. Leap frogs, bouncy balls, small decks of cards, flash cards, gold coins, a quarter, anything!)

Good luck!