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I currently only have one infant in care and he is mine. He is crawling & just starting to cruise so he moves around a lot in whatever room we're in. 3 of my dcks complain about him constantly and its driving me crazy. He touched my foot, he crawled too close to me, he's touching me again. 3 kids were sitting on the rug playing with mega blocks today. The baby crawled over to the rug & picked up 2 blocks, one in each hand, and sat up & tapped them together. He didn't take any the kids were playing with. They were in the pile on the floor. Instantly I heard, "The baby's bothering us. We don't like him to be around us! Make him stop." I don't let him take what toys away from them or knock down their towers. But I don't want to confine him to one corner all day either. How do you teach a baby not to "touch" someone's leg as they crawl by and how do you explain to 3 & 4 year olds that a baby isn't trying to be mean to you. One dcb keeps telling my 3 year old"your baby's not cute," or "your baby's weird." I do let them all say hi to the baby & give a quick hug at the start of the day, but then i tell them not to touch him or get in his face b/c they're so rough. Maybe that's why they don't like him touching them. I really don't know how to handle this & I feel so frustrated.
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I would not change anything other than to tell the kids "thats what babies do" when they complain. The baby is a part of the group and I wouldnt do anything other than make sure baby is safe and not destroying projects. Other than that, it is up to the big kids to adjust. -
This!!I would not change anything other than to tell the kids "thats what babies do" when they complain. The baby is a part of the group and I wouldnt do anything other than make sure baby is safe and not destroying projects. Other than that, it is up to the big kids to adjust
And This!!
Also if they say that the baby isn't cute or weird I'd tell them that they are not allowed to say that again. Period. I would say "It isn't nice to say the baby is weird so I don't want you to say it again, do you understand?"Comment
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I agree with the other posters.
He's a baby. He's exploring his world. JUST like you used to. He is learning. And you are going to let him.
Hurtful words are unacceptable at Ms Laundrys house. This is your only warning. You will sit by yourself if you use hurtful words again.
And follow through.
If they complain about him exploring his world give them the option of sitting at a table with a book.
If they use hurtful words they sit in a thinking chair. Period. No bartering. No whining out of it. They sit. Every single time.Comment
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Yes to all of the above!
I respond "he wants to play to, give him a few blocks" or something similar.
No one is allowed to name call, so saying he is weird or whatever...I'd give ONE warning, then timeout every time they say itComment
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Look out. RANT coming on::
I think this whole
He's touching me
He's messing with my toys
She's slobbering on my doll!
Get that baby away from me!
Etc
Stems from the flowery, don't hurt anyone's feelings, politically correct, yes yes yes dear, give it to them so you don't bruise their ego society we seem to have.
Not many children learn patience and compassion anymore.
They throw a fit for a toy in the store, it gets in the cart
They are bored and get a device to occupy them
They are bored in the car and get food, a movie or special toys to keep them entertained.
They don't know how to come up with their own ideas. They have no idea how to make up games. Their imaginations are crap. Their attention spans less than a goldfish and their manners non exhistant.
And it's not helping them learn how to be independent people. They rely on technology to get them through life.
When honestly, laying g on a blanket with blocks and books and talking about the clouds is something they could all benefit from. Even the parents!
Ugh. Sorry. Just a minor vent. Sorry. Rant over.Comment
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Well, tell us how you really feel....
I couldn't agree more!
Here "go play" and "figure it out yourself" are VERY common phrases....
I don't fertilize the "flower children" I have in care......I allow them to deal with things and figure it out on their own.
Sometimes it does invoke some pretty hurt feelings or a few episodes of pouting/whining but I am pretty good at ignoring those exhibits of "I didn't get my way....." and end up with some really awesome kids who actually have compassion for others and manners too!
I agree 200% with everything you said!!
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You know me. I'm all about going with the crowd. Lol.
Well, tell us how you really feel....
I couldn't agree more!
Here "go play" and "figure it out yourself" are VERY common phrases....
I don't fertilize the "flower children" I have in care......I allow them to deal with things and figure it out on their own.
Sometimes it does invoke some pretty hurt feelings or a few episodes of pouting/whining but I am pretty good at ignoring those exhibits of "I didn't get my way....." and end up with some really awesome kids who actually have compassion for others and manners too!
I agree 200% with everything you said!! Comment
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I absolutely agree with this, but I will be honest that I struggle with knowing how to deal with it. Not all, but most of the children in my care get a ton of screen time, lots of junk food, & are handed what they want if they throw a big enough fit. I've been reading a lot about reality discipline and working to deliberately use it both for my own kids & the daycare kids & the results are amazing! My Ds chose a toy at WalMart a few weeks ago with some money he had. He carried it up to the conveyor belt & laid it down. The cashier rang it up & asked if she should hand it back. I said no thank you that she could bag it & I'd give it to him in the car so he wouldn't be distracted in the parking lot. She said most kids that come through here would be screaming for it by now. I said, "If he screams he doesn't get the toy."
That lady looked at me like I was crazy with her eyebrows raised. Then she laughed & said, "So that's how it works."
This I exactly why so many of our daycare kids act like they do. I will say if you're not used to responding this way though it takes a deliberate change of mindset b/c its easier to give them what they want in the moment, but so much harder in the long run.Comment
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What I would also do is turn it around . When they say he is bothering us tell them but you are teaching him ________________. Make the older kids feel like they are doing something good and helpful .Comment
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I don't mix infants with older kids EVER so I got nuttin.Comment
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