Opinion on a Couple Things

[Hunni Bee]

First: I had two boys act out today. One during naptime (he ran around, flipped over chairs, banged on the wall and turned the light on while the kids were sleeping - I've posted about him before "Jekyll and Hyde" ). The other - I was on the phone. I try really hard not to take phone calls, but its my job to set up outside activities and it was a camp that we do in the summer. I only had 5 awake from nap, so I tried to hurry the woman off the phone...my guy decided to turn flips, jump off a table and scream while I was on the phone...I asked the woman to hold on once to deal with him, but he resumed it as I was back on the phone.

We had a birthday "party" today (cupcakes, juice and sang happy birthday). I let them be there, but I put wrapped their cupcakes to take home...I told them why and showed them their cupcakes wrapped up. J&H purposely broke another little boy's ring that came in the cupcake, so I gave him his.

Was this consequence appropriate? They seemed to understand...

Second: I had a dcg3 start today. At dropoff the mom said she just stopped ****ing her thumb...yesterday. She told me she ****s it to fall asleep, but she doesnt want her to do it and wanted me to stop her if she does. This was her first day...she's been with 14 people she's never met all day, and she's falling asleep in a strange place...I didnt think it was appropriate for me to work on breaking a habit with her at this point. She did put her thumb in her mouth a little while falling asleep, but honestly I didnt bother her. Also, mom showed up unannounced...she just appeared in the doorway :confused: to check on dcg...

Was I right in this?

[Zoe]

I honestly think you did the right thing on both scenarios. The cupcake thing was a natural consequence. And if you immediately tried to take away a child's form of comfort, it would start her on a bad note.

I remember when I was a kid, the very first thing my daycare lady did on my first day was take my Snoopy doll out of my hands and put it up. I remember just standing there feeling so uncomfortable and upset. NOT a fond memory! I did not like that woman.....

[daycare]

Yes I think you did react properly on both situations.

I am not too sure why the mom would want to take away her security on her first day at a new place. How scary for her. Glad that you let her keep it. Maybe you should tell mom that until she settles in at DC she should rethink taking the pacy away.

[cheerfuldom]

I think you did the right thing. It really is unreasonable for the DCM to time the weaning from thumb ****ing right now, especially if that is how she falls asleep. How can you watch her the entire nap to make sure she isn't ****ing??

[daycare]

I think you did the right thing. It really is unreasonable for the DCM to time the weaning from thumb ****ing right now, especially if that is how she falls asleep. How can you watch her the entire nap to make sure she isn't ****ing??

oh its her thumb ..... yeah good luck with that. my son ****ed his thumb when he went to sleep until he was 11. Shhh he would kill me if I told you...hahah jk

What does the mom want you to do?? Hold her thumb so she wont put it in her mouth?

[momatheart]

I think you did the right thing.

[Meyou]

I thnk you did the right thing in both cases. It's cruel to take away a security item the first day. I have policies about security items (thumbs included) in my PH because it drives me nuts when parents cripple their child with 4 billion objects they NEED to have daily. THat being said I'm gentle and gradual weaning new friends off their security items durning non-sleep hours. It takes weeks sometimes and a couple of days in other cases.