Venting...Room Trashed...Kinda Long

[Hunni Bee]

I had a doctor's appointment today, so I came in really late. An aide watched my class while I was gone. When I got to work, the kids had finished snack and were playing and were starting to leave.

Everything looked normal at first...except for the nap blankets being balled up and stuffed into everyone's cubbies and the clothesline where we hang wet paintings and such somehow being pulled off the wall...

...then I noticed that my classrooom that has the block, sensory and housekeeping centers was TRASHED. Toys broken, some of them strewn to other rooms...everything was "put away"- stuffed into random shelves and containers. Nothing was put away properly...apparently, the aide had taken the big plastic totes that I use to sanitize my small toys in, and had the children just throw everything in there. I spent almost 45 minutes this evening putting everything back. Some stuff I still havent found.

This happens every time I'm out. I know I am a little anal about toys being put away and the room being neat, but the aide often works in my room with me and knows where the toys go. PLUS, every container in my room is labeled with its contents in both pictures and words...the children can clean up by themselves...they just have to be made to do it.

This really gets on my nerves...I have asked her several times not to let the children pull out all of the toys at once, and to have them clean up one activity before they move to the next one...she acts like its just way too hard. This has pretty much happened with every aid I've had....they let the kids just go wild and then just shove everything wherever just so its not on the floor...then I have to go back and re-clean the room during my break or planning time.

[missnikki]

It sounds like the aide needs to be trained while you are there. Run your day as you normally would but with her there. Have her parrot your instructions to the kids, so she can learn how to do it. Talk it through. It didn't come easy for any of us, we all had to learn somewhere. If she doesn't want to put forth the effort while you are gone, she'll have to step it up when you are here. That's my 2 pennies.

[littlemissmuffet]

I wouldn't be so nice - I'd find a new aide ASAP

[Hunni Bee]

I wouldn't be so nice - I'd find a new aide ASAP

I would love to pick my own aides...I work in a center though, so I dont have the luxury

[dEHmom]

kids go a little crazy when their usual teachers/caregivers are not present. They are testing them just as they did us at one point.


It might be a good idea to allow the aides to take over while you are present, but hidden? Like maybe leave the room for paperwork time or something. Keeping an eye on how she handles it, without her knowing exactly when you are watching.


Also, advising her the she will have to replace the toys if things like this continue to happen. I don't know if you are allowed to do that, whether you pay her or someone else does, but it's not right if she is not doing HER job and letting you do all the dirty work.

[nannyde]

How old are your kids?

Do you have a pack leader of the kids? If they are three or older I would pick a couple of pack leaders who have really good attendance and teach them how to take charge of clean up time. Work with them every day on checking everything and how to NICELY work with the other kids on how cool it is to put everything where it goes.

If your aide has some "aides" of her own she might get into the game and back them up come clean up time.

The pack leaders get privledges only the leaders get. Make being a pack leader a GOOD and coveted job.

[Hunni Bee]

How old are your kids?

Do you have a pack leader of the kids? If they are three or older I would pick a couple of pack leaders who have really good attendance and teach them how to take charge of clean up time. Work with them every day on checking everything and how to NICELY work with the other kids on how cool it is to put everything where it goes.

If your aide has some "aides" of her own she might get into the game and back them up come clean up time.

The pack leaders get privledges only the leaders get. Make being a pack leader a GOOD and coveted job.

I like that...I was reading one of your other posts about how you sometimes pair an older child with a younger one. I am planning on having a "buddy system" for playtime...(I have 3's and 4's btw) and on Mondays I want to draw names and match up some children who wouldn't normally play together. I came up with it to break up some "cliques" that have formed, and to modify some behaviors (overbearing bossy, shy and barely talks, etc.)

I also am planning on a job chart, and pack leader will be one of the jobs most likely...

Thanks!!

[nannyde]

I like that...I was reading one of your other posts about how you sometimes pair an older child with a younger one. I am planning on having a "buddy system" for playtime...(I have 3's and 4's btw) and on Mondays I want to draw names and match up some children who wouldn't normally play together. I came up with it to break up some "cliques" that have formed, and to modify some behaviors (overbearing bossy, shy and barely talks, etc.)

I also am planning on a job chart, and pack leader will be one of the jobs most likely...

Thanks!!

We have "pack leader in training" t-shirts here courtesy of Cesar Millan.

It's amazing what a little pink t-shirt with some paw prints will do when it comes time to do chores. ::::::

[melskids]

just wanted to share....

i just happened to catch a rerun of suppernanny yesterday, and she took hard hats and glued legos all over it, and they were "toy ranger" hats. the kids put them on when it was pick up time, and it was working!

i am going to make one and it will be for my special "toy ranger" of the week. all though they will all have to help pick up, the "toy ranger" will be in charge of making sure everything is in its place.

i have all boys, so the pink tshirt may not go over so well...

[nannyde]

just wanted to share....

i just happened to catch a rerun of suppernanny yesterday, and she took hard hats and glued legos all over it, and they were "toy ranger" hats. the kids put them on when it was pick up time, and it was working!

i am going to make one and it will be for my special "toy ranger" of the week. all though they will all have to help pick up, the "toy ranger" will be in charge of making sure everything is in its place.

i have all boys, so the pink tshirt may not go over so well...

You can use capes too. They work great. I have some firefighter jackets I've used before.

My boys are manly in pink. They don't really get the pink thing. I saw Dr. Phil yesterday in a pink shirt and he looked FABULOUS in pink.

I have this pink discussion with my kids yesterday:

One says "what do you have in your mouth"
I say "NOTHING" as I'm chomping on pink Double Bubble Gum"
They say "you have Bubble Gum"
I say "No I don't"
They say "you have PINK bubble gum"
I say while blowing a big bubble "No I don't like gum and I don't like pink and I don't know how to blow bubbles. When have you guys EVER seen me in pink?" as I am wearing a pink T-shirt from the Applebaums Training.
They say: TODAY... YOU DO HAVE PINK GUM and you are wearing a pink shirt.
I say "hmmmmmmmmmm sounds like you guys DO need a DAP program. I never wear pink and I don't chew gum"

::::::::::::::::

This goes on for about five minutes and then I pretend I didn't know what the color of pink is and that I didn't realize I had bubble gum in my mouth. Then we go thru what color everyone is wearing Iwhich I get "wrong" on each one and what colors the princesses toenails are.

[melskids]

You can use capes too. They work great. I have some firefighter jackets I've used before.

My boys are manly in pink. They don't really get the pink thing. I saw Dr. Phil yesterday in a pink shirt and he looked FABULOUS in pink.

I have this pink discussion with my kids yesterday:

One says "what do you have in your mouth"
I say "NOTHING" as I'm chomping on pink Double Bubble Gum"
They say "you have Bubble Gum"
I say "No I don't"
They say "you have PINK bubble gum"
I say while blowing a big bubble "No I don't like gum and I don't like pink and I don't know how to blow bubbles. When have you guys EVER seen me in pink?" as I am wearing a pink T-shirt from the Applebaums Training.
They say: TODAY... YOU DO HAVE PINK GUM and you are wearing a pink shirt.
I say "hmmmmmmmmmm sounds like you guys DO need a DAP program. I never wear pink and I don't chew gum"

::::::::::::::::

This goes on for about five minutes and then I pretend I didn't know what the color of pink is and that I didn't realize I had bubble gum in my mouth. Then we go thru what color everyone is wearing Iwhich I get "wrong" on each one and what colors the princesses toenails are.

::

my son actually has a pink tshirt that says "real men wear pink"

the cape is a good idea too.....