My son has been going to daycare since he was 10 weeks old. While he was in the infant room, I was very satisfied. The infant room teachers were very informative and very attentive to the babies. They told us everything that happened that day with our child and interactions with the other babies. I could ask questions about what he ate, how much he ate, and they would tell me.
He's in the toddler room now and while I think his care is fine, the teachers are less communicative about anything he does. They have a daily sheet, but I've noticed it says the same thing on each child's sheet - that they did x, y and z activities, ate everything and slept from 12:30-2:30. I know my son. I know he doesn't eat everything and I know for sure he doesn't sleep from 12:30-2:30. I've come in at 1:45 and he's up and about.
I've talked to the director of the daycare - twice. She assures me that the daily sheets are accurate. I've tried asking the teachers, and it's completely a rote answer.
I've had continued accounting problems with the daycare. I get charged a "late fee" because they forget to electronically process the tuition fees a day late. If my son is absent for a week, we're supposed to only pay half tuition, but no matter how many times I remind the director before his week off, she always forgets and it takes 3 weeks to get our credit back.
His teachers never tell me anything personalized about what he did, unless it's negative. Since negativity is rare for him (other than when he goes into his biting phase when he teethes), they just hand me his daily sheet and say "See you tomorrow!" There's nothing about who he played with, what he did...
Am I expecting too much from them? I know there's around 8-10 kids in the room and only 2 teachers. Did the infant room spoil me and the toddler room is more the norm for daycares? What have your experiences been like?
Thank you for everyone's input. I recognize that his daycare is not the worst thing out there, but I think after 5 months of having zero personal feedback about my son, and getting standard, non-personal and inaccurate daily sheets (every child's daily sheet says they ate everything and slept from 12:30-2:30, which makes it hard for me to gauge whether he's fussy in the eveings because he's tired, hungry, or teething), it's time to shop around a little and see if I can find a better daycare.
Again, I realize he's not in a *bad* daycare - just an average one. But I'm not really willing to settle for average and since the two times I've talked to the daycare director and my direct questions to the teacher ends up with a rote answer and no changes, I want to see if I can find something better.
Hi L.,
I don't think your expectations are too high. Communication is so important when it comes to the people who are taking care of your baby. Maybe it's time to find a new daycare.
Good luck!!!
I've worked at two daycares, one terrible and one great. Even the terrible daycare workers filled out the little sheets with accurate info and talked to the parents! (Then when parents weren't they they were rude to the kids, didn't follow appropriate ratios, didn't let toddlers drink much to avoid wet diapers, etc.) I would say if you feel something is off in your gut and if you are dissatisfied with the way they respond to your questions then look for something else. If it's not possible for you to be a stay at home mom, have you looked into home based care? It usually costs similar, sometimes even less, than a daycare and that way your son will get very individualized attention every day rather than being in an institutional setting. A home based care giver won't even have to fill out those sheets because they will be able to stand there and talk to you!
Hi! Regardless of your expectations, if you're not happy there, start researching a new location. There are tons of great daycares in the Raleigh area. Unfortunately in childcare, there are those that are lazy and just do what 'gets by' during the day. They aren't interested enough in what the children are doing to communicate to the parents effectively. Maybe they don't have kids of their own and can't relate to a parent's interest. You're not asking too much to have some individual interest from the teachers in what your child is doing during the day, but again, if it's just a job to them and not at least partly their passion, efforts sound minimal. Don't fight that part of it, just start looking. RE: financial issues, there are lots of folks in this world that just can't do their job 100%. Although it would irritate me, just pay attention as you have been, keep voicing your concerns and the mistakes will eventually (probably) lessen. Good luck!
if it does not feel right, its not. my daughter was in a day care when she was 12 weeks to when i started staying home when she was three. i loved the teachers n every room she was in, but they all went home at four. after that they brought in a dozen hight school aged girls who were completely worthless. after 2 years of talking to the directer, talking to the teachers and talking until i was blue in the face, i couldn't take it any more. i was pregnant again, and the thought of going through all of this with a second child made me want to scream. i quit my job and became a stay at home mom. I've never looked back. i know that that may not be an option for you. i just hope that you find a situation that works better for you and your family.
Go with your gut feeling on this...your his mom and the only one who knows him like you do. If you are feeling funny about the situation, chances are somethings wrong. A childcare facility should be held to strict high standards...sounds like they are just wanting the money. Take your business elsewhere if possible.
I have worked in the daycare(12-18 months class) as a teacher's helper. Kids learn so much and do new things almost every day at that age, I always took time to talk to the parents .I do not think it is too much to ask when you do not see your child all day. A friend of mine who runs a home daycare even asks parents to bring disposable cameras and at the end of the week they get to develop the film .Parents love it.I am all about customer service though, my hubby is in sales:)
Hi L.,
I used to teach Pre-K, at KinderCare, and eventhough we had lesson plans & routine activities the children had the opportunity to explore and do different activities daily. Like a pp mentioned, I would go with your gut here. If you're not liking the communication from the teacher I would bring it to their attention again. You already know the nap time for your son isn't accurate so the record sheets they're keeping aren't personalized for each child. Regardless of this, as a former pre-k and kindergarten teacher, communication with parents is so important. And to answer your question, you're not expecting too much from them. You are the customer and it's their job to make sure you are satisfied.
Good luck,
J.
When I worked as an assistant in a 2 year old room in a very pricey and well regarded half-day preschool, we had copied sheets like you described that said what the activities for the day were. Some days (maybe 2 days a week) I was able to write personalized notes for the parents by pickup time, and some days we were way too busy. Would you rather the teachers play with the kids, or write you notes? It takes TIME to set up snack, clean 15 sets of paint covered fingers, change 15 diapers, break up 196 fights, etc. On the days I wrote notes I had to carry around a clipboard and do it while they were in music class or on the playground. Forget it if it was a day I had to get 15 coats on before the carpool line started moving- that was asking way too much. You may have a legitimate problem with the daycare, but you need to assess more than just the copied sheets. Is your son happy there? Is he doing art projects? Reading lots of books? Is he clean and dry when you come to get him? Are the teachers educated/experienced? There will come a time not long from now when he can tell you about his day and the sheets won't matter. When I was the sole teacher in the staff nursery at the same preschool, I only had 4 kids to care for and I had much more time to personalize their little notes and talk to their parents. What you're describing just doesn't seem abnormal to me. But go with your gut.
I think, in general: daycares DON'T care. Good luck finding one that does, though.
Where does he go to school, My son is 4 and his teacher writes everything he has done for the day, if his behavior is good or bad, if he had a good lunch day, she really don't talk about his sleep, They nap from 12:00 to 2:30, but he doesn't always sleep that long, The class he was in before she wrote how his day was, but she wrote the snacks they served everyday so I thought he was really eating this stuff, when I knew better. but I would really inforce that b/c you need to know how he is at school so it can help you at home also. J.
I filtered on daycare and found all of your replies. I am actually having that same problem as far as the communication is concerned. I ask everyday, "how was his day,?" and I get "o.k." so I start to probe and ask more questions but it is like pulling teeth. I totally agree with you that my daycare is not the worst daycare but I really need more communication in the afternoons. I am not trying to tell them what to do, I am just interested in the well being and development of my child. I don't want a 20 minutes dissertation-but what "ah ha" moments did he have today. I think I've come to the conclusion just as you to start looking at other daycares. I am in Cordova and there are a lot of options. I am put him in this particular daycare becasue it is a Christian daycare but some of the teachers don't appear to be Christian to me. This could also stem from the fact that some of them are young (just as another Mom stated) and they really don't care.
I am interested to know if you found a place that made you feel comfortable yet?
I don't think your expecations are too high at all. It seems like they may be overwhelmed/understaffed.
working in a day care i will say alot of teachers could care less what the kids did they normally stood at the door talking with other teachers. the sheets are nice in a way if they are done right. can i ask what day care you are using??? also alot of times they will sent the floater in and have them fill out the sheets no idea why. i suggest looking for another daycare tho if you have had more than one thing happen here. esp if you arnt happy good luck
