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Okay, I have been a provider for only 2 years, but I have 15 years of center experience (including center director) and 2 years of nannying before that. I have NEVER, in my almost 20 years experience, seen ANYTHING like this!
My entire group is completely out of control, and I have not changed anything. Instead of eagerly participating in activities, they try their hardest to disrupt them...no matter what the activity! Instead of playing nicely as a group, they are all out at war with hitting, kicking, pulling hair, etc. Instead of walking and following our handful of classroom rules, there is only running. Instead of 2.5 hour naptimes with EVERYONE sleeping, I have 2 hour play sessions that include me trying to keep up to everyone jumping on their cots, squealing, pretending to burp/fart, outbursts of laughter and cot escapes! I have HAD IT!
Yes, my classroom is set up to discourage running...now we just run INTO the shelves. Yes, I make them sit when they run. Previously, I had the "model behavior" approach to discipline. (i.e. "Since you aren't playing nicely with blocks, why don't you go sit next to Johnny so he can show you how to play with them." "Since you are running to wash hands, why don't you walk back and walk with Susie because she is walking so nicely.") If that didn't work, I had them shadow me and be my helper. Worked like a charm...every time. It doesn't anymore. Now they just laugh at me and the "model" becomes part of the "plot against the rules." Since we are hitting and hurting each other non-stop, I implemented an immediate "time out" for hurting your friends...every time. They don't care. Most are just on time out 10 or more times per day. Then I have them explain what they did to earn the time out, and they can always tell me...never stops them from repeating moments later. I've seperated all of them from each other's view at naptime, but I cannot separate them from each other's hearing. I don't have the option to put them in different rooms, but it was never a problem until recently.
I have a low ratio and an assistant, although I won't be surprised if my assistant quits soon due to all of this. I have not had problems with these kids in the past and have had no changes to the group. I usually have the approach that busy kids don't have time to get into trouble, but the more we try to do our activities, the more they resist. If I back off and give them more freedom, despite everything I try, they only want to run around the shelves, spin in circles, spit on each other, hurt each other, and LAUGH HYSTERICALLY at how funny they are!!! We have tried to plant a garden, take long hikes (they are in a stroller or holding hands with a partner and STILL manage to hurt each other the entire time.) The mere act of taking them outside installs utter chaos no matter how many "transition" warnings/activities/planning I attempt. It is so frustrating! Instead of playing as a group, I only let them play in small groups and/or in "center" activities. (My space is designed like a classroom with centers, etc.) They still can't handle it. We spend several times a day sitting alone and looking at books to calm down, but then the burping/farting, spitting, or something interrupts it and chaos resumes. Heaven forbid a parent walks in the room (I make them wait outside the gate now) and THEY GO NUTS because my full attention is not on them and they think they can get away with it...keep in mind, my assistant is still "all hands on deck."
It came to a head this afternoon. After being on their cots for an hour and a half, NO ONE was asleep. One two year old was running around/screeching on her cot, the 4 year old was picking up carpet specks to which a 3 year old was yelling at her. A 5 year old was burping to make the others laugh. I couldn't keep up. I finally just got them up. I am NOT HAPPY!!! They are each in a seperate area with their own bucket of toys and are instructed that they will stay there (with the exception of snack and bathroom breaks) until their parents arrive. At that point, I intend to speak with all of them and the children to discuss what happened today and try to brainstorm ideas together. I don't know what else to do. Anyone have ideas?
I can't do this anymore. I have contemplated letting someone go, but I cannot think of anyone person/family that is causing the problem. Simply put, I can no longer keep them safe. I am capable of keeping them safe, but they are OUT OF CONTROL and I don't know why. I would swear up and down that the parents are witholding sleep from them and giving them candy and Mountain Dew/espresso before dropping them off to me every day. Everything I know about kids and child development is failing me. Who can help me?
Again, nothing has changed except that suddenly all of the kids are here much longer days (the family that was 10-5 is now 7:30-5:30, the family that was 9-5 is now 8-5:30, the family that was 8:30-4:30 is now 7:45-5:45 even though I close at 5:30, and the family that was 8-5 is now waiting in my driveway at 7:20 and here until I close every day). The longer days did coincide with the problems, but I can't pinpoint why except that the kids are away from their parents more..doesn't change my rules or my routine. These parents are all professional and don't mind paying late fees if it is more convenient for them, never keep their kids home if they are home, and if the kids wake up a little early they just bring them to my house earlier. They are a bit of the "entitled" type, they pay me so they might as well leave them here every second they can since they are paying for it. On the flipside, they are all intelligent, hardworking, and do provide for their children. I don't know what to think. HELP! (before I have a nervous breakdown) I want my job and my nice kids/nice routine back...NOW! This has been going on for the past 4-6 weeks or so. We have had 4 "good" days during that time.
My entire group is completely out of control, and I have not changed anything. Instead of eagerly participating in activities, they try their hardest to disrupt them...no matter what the activity! Instead of playing nicely as a group, they are all out at war with hitting, kicking, pulling hair, etc. Instead of walking and following our handful of classroom rules, there is only running. Instead of 2.5 hour naptimes with EVERYONE sleeping, I have 2 hour play sessions that include me trying to keep up to everyone jumping on their cots, squealing, pretending to burp/fart, outbursts of laughter and cot escapes! I have HAD IT!
Yes, my classroom is set up to discourage running...now we just run INTO the shelves. Yes, I make them sit when they run. Previously, I had the "model behavior" approach to discipline. (i.e. "Since you aren't playing nicely with blocks, why don't you go sit next to Johnny so he can show you how to play with them." "Since you are running to wash hands, why don't you walk back and walk with Susie because she is walking so nicely.") If that didn't work, I had them shadow me and be my helper. Worked like a charm...every time. It doesn't anymore. Now they just laugh at me and the "model" becomes part of the "plot against the rules." Since we are hitting and hurting each other non-stop, I implemented an immediate "time out" for hurting your friends...every time. They don't care. Most are just on time out 10 or more times per day. Then I have them explain what they did to earn the time out, and they can always tell me...never stops them from repeating moments later. I've seperated all of them from each other's view at naptime, but I cannot separate them from each other's hearing. I don't have the option to put them in different rooms, but it was never a problem until recently.
I have a low ratio and an assistant, although I won't be surprised if my assistant quits soon due to all of this. I have not had problems with these kids in the past and have had no changes to the group. I usually have the approach that busy kids don't have time to get into trouble, but the more we try to do our activities, the more they resist. If I back off and give them more freedom, despite everything I try, they only want to run around the shelves, spin in circles, spit on each other, hurt each other, and LAUGH HYSTERICALLY at how funny they are!!! We have tried to plant a garden, take long hikes (they are in a stroller or holding hands with a partner and STILL manage to hurt each other the entire time.) The mere act of taking them outside installs utter chaos no matter how many "transition" warnings/activities/planning I attempt. It is so frustrating! Instead of playing as a group, I only let them play in small groups and/or in "center" activities. (My space is designed like a classroom with centers, etc.) They still can't handle it. We spend several times a day sitting alone and looking at books to calm down, but then the burping/farting, spitting, or something interrupts it and chaos resumes. Heaven forbid a parent walks in the room (I make them wait outside the gate now) and THEY GO NUTS because my full attention is not on them and they think they can get away with it...keep in mind, my assistant is still "all hands on deck."
It came to a head this afternoon. After being on their cots for an hour and a half, NO ONE was asleep. One two year old was running around/screeching on her cot, the 4 year old was picking up carpet specks to which a 3 year old was yelling at her. A 5 year old was burping to make the others laugh. I couldn't keep up. I finally just got them up. I am NOT HAPPY!!! They are each in a seperate area with their own bucket of toys and are instructed that they will stay there (with the exception of snack and bathroom breaks) until their parents arrive. At that point, I intend to speak with all of them and the children to discuss what happened today and try to brainstorm ideas together. I don't know what else to do. Anyone have ideas?
I can't do this anymore. I have contemplated letting someone go, but I cannot think of anyone person/family that is causing the problem. Simply put, I can no longer keep them safe. I am capable of keeping them safe, but they are OUT OF CONTROL and I don't know why. I would swear up and down that the parents are witholding sleep from them and giving them candy and Mountain Dew/espresso before dropping them off to me every day. Everything I know about kids and child development is failing me. Who can help me?
Again, nothing has changed except that suddenly all of the kids are here much longer days (the family that was 10-5 is now 7:30-5:30, the family that was 9-5 is now 8-5:30, the family that was 8:30-4:30 is now 7:45-5:45 even though I close at 5:30, and the family that was 8-5 is now waiting in my driveway at 7:20 and here until I close every day). The longer days did coincide with the problems, but I can't pinpoint why except that the kids are away from their parents more..doesn't change my rules or my routine. These parents are all professional and don't mind paying late fees if it is more convenient for them, never keep their kids home if they are home, and if the kids wake up a little early they just bring them to my house earlier. They are a bit of the "entitled" type, they pay me so they might as well leave them here every second they can since they are paying for it. On the flipside, they are all intelligent, hardworking, and do provide for their children. I don't know what to think. HELP! (before I have a nervous breakdown) I want my job and my nice kids/nice routine back...NOW! This has been going on for the past 4-6 weeks or so. We have had 4 "good" days during that time.
YES! I agree with Meeko, sounds like some good old school consequences are in order here! 
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