Wow! Serious Allegations!

[Candy]

Wow! And I definitely think this had to start somewhere. I believe one of the children saw this somewhere outside of preschool and brought the idea to preschool, where he perpetuated a "fad."

I agree, I think the parent of watever child started this knows it was their child that started this. And now they are one of those parents trying to play shocked.

[nanglgrl]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_care_sexual_abuse_hysteria

Above is a Wikepedia page that explains a lot of the hysteria cases that happened in the 80's but make sure to read about the Fells Acre Day Care Center for some reason that one really stuck with me.

In these cases a lot of the children were telling the same or similar stories because the people asking the questions were unknowingly leading them. Some of the stories were just plain insane and could have been easily dis-proven, instead innocent people were jailed and some even died in prison. In a lot of the cases the kids grew up to say nothing had actually happened.
One case started with a grandmother who had a vendetta and spread out to involve 60 children.
Kids see a lot more than we think they do and even prime time TV is crazy nowdays. Some parents are better at protecting their children from media images and information that they are too young to contemplate but then those children go to school and their friend who's parents don't think it's a big deal tell the other child all of the stuff her parents have been trying to protect her from.

[Bookworm]

I read another article about this and what I find strange is that there was only 2 parents who complained but when the other parents found out about the lawsuit, they were ready to jump on the band wagon.

How many teacher worked at this center? It's somewhat hard to believe that this could be going on in different places throughout the day without any teacher noticing several children missing. This situation also reminds me of the McMartin and Fells Acre incidents. I'm not saying the children and their parents are lying,Lord knows there is plenty of hellish stuff going on in the world, but I need more information.

[snips&snails]

IF these allegations are true then likely one (or more) children had either been sexually abused OR exposed on a regular basis to *****graphy or adult sexual behavior. Children who have been abused can & will become abusers - very sad really.

To the poster concerned about the child masturbating at naptime, if this is the only behavior that is of concern it could well be normal. My policy is to calmly redirect & remind them that is something that they may not do in public. If keeping hands out of pants is an issue, a belt is often successful

[Michelle]

well I just saw on the news that the state closed them down today.
When I saw the news footage, there were still alot of kids in attendance today.
I was really surprised to see so many parents still leaving their kids at that preschool.

Of course some of the parents have already filed lawsuits

[blandino]

I think this should be a lesson to us all....

If you believe the theory that one child (was abused or witnessed something inappropriate) and started this, and the others followed (as I am inclined to believe) - you should document all of it - and have the parent of the child initiating it sign everything.

Clearly in this case there was a SERIOUS lack of supervision. But how easily could this have happened at a daycare where one child brings that behavior in and it spreads to the others. Maybe the daycare provider would have been embarrassed to talk to the parent or make a big deal about it in front of the child (giving it attention).

I know, I will just take this as a warning of how easily things could spiral out of control even if the DCP is doing things correctly.

[Michelle]

I think this should be a lesson to us all....

If you believe the theory that one child (was abused or witnessed something inappropriate) and started this, and the others followed (as I am inclined to believe) - you should document all of it - and have the parent of the child initiating it sign everything.

Clearly in this case there was a SERIOUS lack of supervision. But how easily could this have happened at a daycare where one child brings that behavior in and it spreads to the others. Maybe the daycare provider would have been embarrassed to talk to the parent or make a big deal about it in front of the child (giving it attention).

I know, I will just take this as a warning of how easily things could spiral out of control even if the DCP is doing things correctly.

I totally 100% agree !
This could happen to anyone.
The general rule is eyes on the kids at all times even when they are sleeping! Now especially when they are sleeping

[Oneluckymom]

Wow! difficult one, but like someone else said it could be false, I would rather believe this because is just so hard for me to believe that these kids were doing this kinda things. I know for sure that if I leave my kids alone so I can use the restroom when I come back I won't find a picture like this one, why do I say this? Because in the case of this being true they also have to go to each family and question them, because there is deff abuse in this case, kids don't learn this by themselves, one thing is touching themselves because of curiosity but oral sex? That is learned and where did they learn it from? Form the teachers? Mom? Dad? Uncle? Grandpa? Who was abusing this kids?

This is exactly what I said to my DH when he brought this story to me to read in the news a few days ago. It SCEAMS sexual abuse is what I said. Kids learn these kind of behaviors. It is incredibly sad that the innocence of so many of these little children is forever gone.

[coolconfidentme]

I am trying very hard to teach my kids between appropriate & inappropriate behavior. I am constantly redirecting a 2 yr old DCG who booty tooches the DCBs. Yesterday during dance time, she tried to kiss another child with her tongue stuck out & pulled up her shirt & said, "Look!" I'm keeping DCM informed of the behavior. I believe the child watches whatever single mom watches & she doesn't have a consistent structured environment at home. I'm open to any ideas on how to handle it.

[CedarCreek]

IF these allegations are true then likely one (or more) children had either been sexually abused OR exposed on a regular basis to *****graphy or adult sexual behavior. Children who have been abused can & will become abusers - very sad really.

To the poster concerned about the child masturbating at naptime, if this is the only behavior that is of concern it could well be normal. My policy is to calmly redirect & remind them that is something that they may not do in public. If keeping hands out of pants is an issue, a belt is often successful

I've tried to stay away from commenting on this thread but this I cannot ignore. I was sexually abused for years by two family members who would hurt me if I tried to tell. For instance, we had an electric fence to keep our cows in that they would put my hand on if I were so unlucky for them to catch me outside.

The notion that I not only have had the ability to abuse but that I WILL abuse someone else because of my abuse is absurd.

I did not have the option for therapy for this particular issue until I was an adult and out of my parents house. Even without the therapy until then,I managed not to abuse anyone.

So, even if that its not what you meant, those words were insulting.

[Michelle]

I've tried to stay away from commenting on this thread but this I cannot ignore. I was sexually abused for years by two family members who would hurt me if I tried to tell. For instance, we had an electric fence to keep our cows in that they would put my hand on if I were so unlucky for them to catch me outside.

The notion that I not only have had the ability to abuse but that I WILL abuse someone else because of my abuse is absurd.

I did not have the option for therapy for this particular issue until I was an adult and out of my parents house. Even without the therapy until then,I managed not to abuse anyone.

So, even if that its not what you meant, those words were insulting.

I think what she meant was that the kids were copying what had happened to them..I am so sorry for what happened to you. Hugs and lovethis

[blessed mom]

Yes, kids will copy!!! I used to work at a center where a child in another classroom tried to have oral sex with another child. It was caught and dealt with. Apparently that little girl had been abused by her uncle and was copying what was done to her. So sad.

[CedarCreek]

Then it needs to be phrased differently.

[Jewels]

This is unbelievable.

I don't want to hijack this thread at all but I just termed a family and the little boy who is 4 would not stop playing with himself vigorously at quiet time. I mean it was obvious as to what he was doing. Seriously I had to ask him to stop every 2 minutes. I have never seen sexual expressions from a kid that young ever in my 19 years of working with kids.

Don't you guys think this could be caused from abuse?

I just wanted to edit to say I didn't term for the little boy playing with himself during quiet time, there were other issues that we amicably parted ways about. When I reread my comment I realized it might have sounded like I termed for that. Though I have to admit I'm happy I didn't have to address that.

No I would never think from a little boy touching themselves they are abused, they are not touching themselves sexually, they are touching because it feels good, my son has been a floor humper since he was just over 1 yrs old, and I have another boy 4 yrs old who is always grabbing himself, I just ask him to please stop,and I have another boy who for a while kept taking his clothes off during nap, and touching himself, that was stopped quickly, and my son now older, knows to keep it in his room........I used to play "dr" all the time with my little girlfriends, and I was never abused, kids are curious.................however this has nothing to do with the above allegations, that is just horrific, and some kid definatly was exposed to something they shouldn't in know way should kids that young be doing that, I mean I have no words, this will leterally mess some of those kids up.

[Jewels]

I've tried to stay away from commenting on this thread but this I cannot ignore. I was sexually abused for years by two family members who would hurt me if I tried to tell. For instance, we had an electric fence to keep our cows in that they would put my hand on if I were so unlucky for them to catch me outside.

The notion that I not only have had the ability to abuse but that I WILL abuse someone else because of my abuse is absurd.

I did not have the option for therapy for this particular issue until I was an adult and out of my parents house. Even without the therapy until then,I managed not to abuse anyone.

So, even if that its not what you meant, those words were insulting.

I do believe she phrased that very bad..........she said can and WILL become abusers, thats an unfair statement, I do believe it can be a circle for some, but for sure not everyone thats abused does the same, sadly its more common for boys who are abused to become abusers than girls who are abused.........I'm sorry for your past.