Falling Behind Due To Sleep..

[daycare]

All of my DCK have been doing great academically. Most of my kids are age 3 and one 4.5 year old.

One of my DCK who I have posted about before is constantly falling asleep and is not able to participate in class time because of his need to sleep.
The child (who is very intelligent) has fallen very behind in class. While I am not comparing any of the children to each other, I am tracking the progress of this child and he is just not making any. Because all of the kids are or should I say were all on the same page, I really don’t have the time to go back and re-teach all that has been missed due to his missing class.

Would you ask the parents to help the child catch up at home? Or would you find the time for this child and help them catch up?

If it were a new child entering the DC, I think it would be different. Do you think that it is fair that because the parents don’t put him to sleep at night they should be the ones to help him catch up?

[Abigail]

If you have not mentioned to the parents yet how much he wants to sleep, ask them if he sleeps much at home? If he does then maybe he needs to see if anything is wrong or do some research online about children who sleep too much. If he doesn't sleep much, then he just needs to go to bed sooner or sleep in longer. You could follow up each day with the parents and just ask what time did he go to bed and wake up or if he slept well? It's good open communication because you give a rundown of his day with you and they should tell you if anything changes at home because it will affect you.

[nannyde]

When it is all said and done he can go his entire first five years of life and not have a minute of "school" and turn out GREAT and lead a wonderful and successful academic career.

Lack of sleep can't be undone. His body needs sleep. He doesn't need "school" so how he is doing now doesn't matter.

Don't worry a lick about it. Give him a little school when he's up but let him sleep, eat healthy food and free play. That's what he NEEDS.

[daycare]

When it is all said and done he can go his entire first five years of life and not have a minute of "school" and turn out GREAT and lead a wonderful and successful academic career.

Lack of sleep can't be undone. His body needs sleep. He doesn't need "school" so how he is doing now doesn't matter.

Don't worry a lick about it. Give him a little school when he's up but let him sleep, eat healthy food and free play. That's what he NEEDS.

nannyde i agree with you 100% I feel almost bad teaching a set program to these kids as they will have the rest of their lives to be in a classroom learing.

The parents of this child put a lot of pressure on me with his academics... i guess i shoudl have mentioned that.

To me it is more important that a child learn how to be a good member of society than to be taught a planned lesson....

[daycare]

If you have not mentioned to the parents yet how much he wants to sleep, ask them if he sleeps much at home? If he does then maybe he needs to see if anything is wrong or do some research online about children who sleep too much. If he doesn't sleep much, then he just needs to go to bed sooner or sleep in longer. You could follow up each day with the parents and just ask what time did he go to bed and wake up or if he slept well? It's good open communication because you give a rundown of his day with you and they should tell you if anything changes at home because it will affect you.

I am way past that point with the parents with the sleep issues. The child needs to sleep. His parents don't put him to bed at night at a decent time and therefore as soon as he gets here and has a little food in him he's out. I don't have any issue so much with that anymore, I'd rather him get the sleep he needs...

I should have mentioned that this chid's parents puts a lot of stress on me about his learning....this is why I questioned this

[Country Kids]

I would let them know that there is no way he can learn anything with your program if all he does is sleep. So when they are willing to put him in bed at a descent hour then you will be concerned with what he is learning. Yes, he has the rest of his life to learn but these parents sound like they will always be this way and then what happens when he does start school and does nothing but sleep. How will he learn then? They need to step up to the plate now, get him to bed at a set time every night and then you can teach him. Do not feel bad about this and if they think someone else can do better let them find someone who will fight their child all day to stay awake. You know a center wouldn't. He would either participate or be termed.

[daycare]

I would let them know that there is no way he can learn anything with your program if all he does is sleep. So when they are willing to put him in bed at a descent hour then you will be concerned with what he is learning. Yes, he has the rest of his life to learn but these parents sound like they will always be this way and then what happens when he does start school and does nothing but sleep. How will he learn then? They need to step up to the plate now, get him to bed at a set time every night and then you can teach him. Do not feel bad about this and if they think someone else can do better let them find someone who will fight their child all day to stay awake. You know a center wouldn't. He would either participate or be termed.

county kids good point... I put too much stress on myself to please these parents. I don't know why but I do. I guess it's my personality to want to please others.

The DCP think that he still has time to NOT have a scheulde before he starts school???? Huh really, then why is he in my program? I honestly don't care if he is sleeping, but don't harass me that your child is not learning when you are keeping them up until the wee hours of the night..... they know my program and my routine, the whole reason they came here... geeerrrr.. I think I must be PMSing today.....vent vent vent

[Abigail]

You should find an article on how sleep affects education, I bet many are out there and post it and also put it in your news article or online site...maybe they'll get the hint.

[Unregistered]

When it is all said and done he can go his entire first five years of life and not have a minute of "school" and turn out GREAT and lead a wonderful and successful academic career.

Lack of sleep can't be undone. His body needs sleep. He doesn't need "school" so how he is doing now doesn't matter.

Don't worry a lick about it. Give him a little school when he's up but let him sleep, eat healthy food and free play. That's what he NEEDS.

Yes, until he gets to kindergarten with no school, and all the kids who have had preschool have to sit and suffer while those who only played get caught up on the basics. School has changed, kids need more going in. I'm not saying it's more important than sleep, but it is important.

[daycare]

You should find an article on how sleep affects education, I bet many are out there and post it and also put it in your news article or online site...maybe they'll get the hint.

you would think one would...I did that a few months back... not that i really want to get into the other aspect of it, but it's so sad that the parents won't stop their lives for a few hours or even mintues to just put thier child to bed. Seriously, I am going to start driving over there and putting that kid to bed at 8:00 every night... ok not really but what do I have to do to make it a point that it is so necessary that kids need SLEEP...

[nannyde]

Yes, until he gets to kindergarten with no school, and all the kids who have had preschool have to sit and suffer while those who only played get caught up on the basics. School has changed, kids need more going in. I'm not saying it's more important than sleep, but it is important.

Nah they don't. If the schools can't figure out how to manage the "suffering" of the "ones who went to preschool" then that's on the school.

Kids who have FULL academic programs between three and five don't look any different than kids who haven't had a day of it by the time they enter second grade.

Your dipping into the preschool Kool-aid punch bowl. Drop the laddle and walk away....

[Country Kids]

Nannyde, I have to disagree with you on this one. My child was actually in my eyes dumbed down because of knowing things when she went in to kindergarden. She always had to wait for the other kids to learn things. No one actually challenged her in anyway. In 2nd grade she was tested for tag but missed it because she didn't know her times tables quite yet-they hadn't even done them yet in school. She has been in college classes since she was a freshman in high school and is now a junior. My daughter has an Oct. birthday so she actually started school a year late-kindergarden at 6 because the cut off for our state is Sept. 1 birthday. So she actually had an extra year of learning from me, would have been ready for 1st grade but the school would not bump her up. Very frustrating for me.

Things have changed dramatically since then-my son who is now nine had quite a different experience in kindergarden. It was all about learning to read, read, read and math, math, math. The kids though who don't know anything are totally lost once again and once again slow the class way down.

I have seen the kids in kindergarden who don't know how to hold a pencil, write their names, etc. I think there should be two kindergardens and testing for them. If you pass the test you go into the higher one and if not you go to the lower one. That way the kids who know their stuff can be challenged and get a jump start on things.

[Unregistered]

Nannyde, I have to disagree with you on this one. My child was actually in my eyes dumbed down because of knowing things when she went in to kindergarden. She always had to wait for the other kids to learn things. No one actually challenged her in anyway. In 2nd grade she was tested for tag but missed it because she didn't know her times tables quite yet-they hadn't even done them yet in school. She has been in college classes since she was a freshman in high school and is now a junior. My daughter has an Oct. birthday so she actually started school a year late-kindergarden at 6 because the cut off for our state is Sept. 1 birthday. So she actually had an extra year of learning from me, would have been ready for 1st grade but the school would not bump her up. Very frustrating for me.

Things have changed dramatically since then-my son who is now nine had quite a different experience in kindergarden. It was all about learning to read, read, read and math, math, math. The kids though who don't know anything are totally lost once again and once again slow the class way down.

I have seen the kids in kindergarden who don't know how to hold a pencil, write their names, etc. I think there should be two kindergardens and testing for them. If you pass the test you go into the higher one and if not you go to the lower one. That way the kids who know their stuff can be challenged and get a jump start on things.

I agree with this. Budgets are bad and schools are having to cut cut cut, which means less aides in the classrooms, etc. I am in the same state as NannyDe and I can tell you, our schools are struggling financially. It's sad but true. Why would you not give your child every opportunity... including preschool? And I don't even mean preschool here at childcare, I mean formal preschool outside of the home?

[nannyde]

It's sad but true. Why would you not give your child every opportunity... including preschool? And I don't even mean preschool here at childcare, I mean formal preschool outside of the home?

Because attending preschool doesn't affect educational outcomes. Because it's so expensive to start educating kids under five. Because we need the money for Kindergarten thru 12th grade.

If parents want their child to go to preschool then they should pay for it. If it makes them feel like they are giving their kid a leg up then go for it. The taxpayers should be paying for very poor children only.... to get them INTO another environment... and that doesn't even have to be academic. It can be a social program like Head Start.

We need to QUIT using the research on poor children's early childhood education and applying it to every other economic segment of children. It makes the average person BELIEVE preschool should be a RIGHT instead a opportunity for kids under five.

It's okay to start educating kids at age five. Give them a childhood of good FOOD, free play, good deep sleep, supervision, DISCIPLINE and love. That's what REALLY matters long term.

[Unregistered]

If parents want their child to go to preschool then they should pay for it.

This I TOTALLY agree with. I will be honest, it NEVER crossed my mind you were talking about gov. funded preschool. I was talking about the parents who are lazy and just don't bother with it. I did pay for my son's preschool, as I should have, and as should most people. I think my issue is I have a DCG who is almost 4, not in 3 yr old preschool, and may not be going to 4 year old preschool because mom thinks she is "smart enough." I do my best here, but as we all know, it's hard with a mixed age group and lots of children. She does not know all her letters/numbers, and has NO social skills. (Mom doesn't either). She needs preschool, or I believe she will be a hinderance to her Kindergarten class while she catches up. And it's NOT a money issue, not even close.