At My Wit's End! This Behavior Has Got to Stop!

[Daycare Mommy]

Actually, I'm not at a center. I'm an assistant at a large home daycare (allowed to have up to 16 children). The owner and I work together with the children and their discipline, activities, etc.

What does the owner say to all this then? Is she okay with what's going on? Is she reading these posts or are you at least conveying them to her?

You guys seriously need to start calling some parents on the older kids when they are out of control (5 yo refusing to do timeout kicking and hitting you is NOT ACCEPTABLE!). I just termed one of those myself. I'm 99% sure he was special needs of some kind, but the parents wouldn't tell me ANYTHING about his behavior, daycare history, or help me in any way to deal with his very big issues. It is completely ridiculous for anyone (boss or parents) to expect you to work under those conditions. If the parents don't or won't help they get termed fast. Just like the kids, the parents need consequences too sometimes.

Again, can you get an extra staff member temporarily? Maybe a family member of you or the boss, just to come in to keep your ratio in place so one of you can effectively deal with the discipline issues when they come up?

If your boss is fine with the behavior or won't do anything to fix it, I'd find a new job asap.

[nannyde]

Actually, I'm not at a center. I'm an assistant at a large home daycare (allowed to have up to 16 children). The owner and I work together with the children and their discipline, activities, etc.

My mistake. I thought when you were describing the outdoor time you were talking about an outdoor playground as one would have in a Center.

Okay... well that changes things a bit.

Can you tell me the number of kids you have daily, approx ages, and number of directly supervising adults.

I'm praying you aren't going to tell me that you and the owner are doing up to 16 kids with just the two of you.

Out of the 16 kids are some required to be above Kindergarten in age and are they allowed to be in the day care in the summer?

Are you guys allowed six under the age of two? I think I remember that about Indiana but not sure.

What is your physical set up and are the children under two physically mixed in with the over two's?

[Crystal]

I think your owner needs to take some classes/workshops in order to become a more effective leader.....and it wouldn't hurt for you to do so either.

I also think that it is yours and the owners responsibilty to ensure the safety of ALL of the children in care and you are not doing that. It seems a call to licensing is in order to get things set straight, IMO. If it is as bad as you describe, something SERIOUS can happen, and you and the owner will not have to worry about losing SOME business, but ALL of the business. Also, accountability will not be JUST on the owner, it will be on you as well.....get it fixed or get a new job, before YOU end up in trouble.