I’ve only worked in centers that heavily use apps and i’m curious what the line of communication with parents looks like in low tech centers. For example, I am expected to document/ notify a parent if their child developed a diaper rash during the day, was coughing a lot during nap, or tugging at their ear. Are these concerns documented on paper and the parents are made aware at pick up? I struggle to use my work app but also couldn’t imagine not being able to share the happy moments of the day in real time with parents. If there’s an incident report do you have to call or is texting acceptable? We are only required to message parents in the app unless the injury is really bad. I’m just super curious!

I have a 4.5 month old that is starting daycare in August. He’ll be 5 months old when he starts!

We have been working on introducing a bottle since 2 weeks old and have had almost no luck. He went from completely refusing a bottle, to drinking 1/2 to 1 oz consistently. But he has only ever taken 2 oz a handful of times. We’re working with a feeding therapist and have been for almost 2 months now but the progress is slow. She believes it’s behavioral at this point. We have tried every bottle under the sun but are currently using MAM size 2 nipples because it’s the only one he has consistently drank from. It takes him about 20 minutes to even finish 1 to 2 oz, I tried MAM size 3 nipples but the flow was waaayyyy too fast for him.

He has a bottle at least once a day, but usually closer to 2 to 3 times. We’re also working on straw and open cups, and plan to introduce food early. We’ve also tried leaving him with family, different people giving bottles, different environments, different times of the day, different temps, fresh vs frozen vs refrigerated milk. I haven’t tried giving formula yet but I’m actually doing that this week just to see - it’s probably the only thing we haven’t tried!

Just looking for some reassurance that this will be fine. I’m so incredibly stressed. His daycare isn’t close enough for me to go nurse him on lunch and he’ll be there for about 8 hours a day. The daycare told me to just send in multiple nipples and bottles so they could experiment with him.

Has anyone had a baby THIS difficult that ended up taking bottles? He’s stressing me OUT! Also open to any other random suggestions for things we can try!

I work on the admin team of a EHS/HS childcare center and this is my first post grad job after getting my bachelor's of social work. i have been here for about a year, and nothing I do seems to help build strong relationships with the women I work with. We're a small team of 4 (previously 5) and I am the only one on my team that is not only a difference race, and does not speak Spanish like the rest of the team. I am constantly left out of conversations (whether it's intentional or not) and they have no interest in me or making me feel included. Unfortunately, the center I work for, all of my team members have 10 year long relationships with each other whether that be from working together for 10 years, or their child/chidlren previously attended. I have started asking "what what happened" when they are having a conversation that seems playful and results in laughing but I always get a brief 1-2 sentence summary of what they were discussing. They go out to lunch together (which is fine I get we don't have that kind of relationship) but it still stings. They have less tolerance for any mistake I need compared to each other, and I just feel like an outsider. I have expressed this to my director many times as she is also primarly spanish speaking and is on our direct team. I have told her I felt that the culture here is very closed off to new people, and not much effort is made to include others. She understood where I was coming from and pretty much agreed without providing any solutions on what I can do better to feel more included. I've tried to give updates on my life, bring food for the office, nothing. The relationshios are so surface level. If I am having a bay day, no one checks on me or ask what they can do to help me, but i've witnessed them do it for each other. I am having headaches, i cant eat while i work, and im having constant crying spells. I am planning my exit and have been applying to jobs religously, and I also have a meeting with one of our senior dircetors this week in the hopes that she can provide any support or solutions. I don't feel like myself here. I am a social person who loves connecting with others, but thoughout the day I probably speak 10 sentences just because most of the conversatons are in Spanish. I am not saying I don't expect them to speak in the language they are most confortabble with, but it's just so so hard.

I’ve been working at this nursery for a year , and like an idiot decided to recently start an apprenticeship for a higher qualification. My thinking was incase i’m here another year or so then at least i’ve got a qualification out of it. But i didn’t realise how burnt out i’d become so quickly. I’m completely over it, and i think knowing childcare wasn’t my first choice and my degree is in something unrelated makes me feel worse. i’m earning minimum wage and i feel like an absolute failure, whilst caring for the children of literal millionaires and have them pick at everything. For some reason today feels like a breaking point even though the work day wasn’t even that bad,

i’m just done. I came home and snapped at my

mother and she later said to me this is all because you hate your job and feel stuck. i feel awful and i feel like it’s turning me into a person i don’t recognise. i’d just like some words of encouragement or understanding. i feel like if i quit now ill never find anything else since non childcare roles never show interest in me. I am diagnosed with depression and anxiety btw

Hi everyone,
I recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and I’m currently looking for my first permanent nursery role.
English is my second language, so I’m also hoping to find a supportive environment where I can continue developing my communication skills and grow as an Early Years Practitioner.
I’m choosing between a few nursery job offers, and I’ve realised that salary isn’t the most important thing for me. I want to work somewhere with a healthy culture where I can learn, grow, and genuinely enjoy coming to work. I prefer working at a preschool room.
If you were choosing a nursery today, what questions would you ask during the interview or trial shift to find out what it’s really like?

Yeah the update is just that she still will not lesson plan. I’ve been planning every week for the last 6 weeks. I hang up everything on the walls. I do 85% of the classroom management. I was out for a few days due to an illness, she text me asking for the plans. Now I could have responded “they are in the lesson plan written out” or “Everything you need is in the bin labeled for each day” but instead I text her a detailed list of each activity and what materials will be needed (all materials already in bins ready to go) annnnd she didn’t put out a single activity. Instead she did two days of free play and then complained when they were bored and thus behaviors started. I go back to my original classroom in another month where I thankfully will have my amazing lesson planning co teacher who 100% splits the workload without me asking. But boy. Am I tired of this.

I mentioned previously the curriculum is quite hard. I plan 5-7 different activities and last week I had to teach them how to make boat knots?? (Never did that before) and next week I have to teach them Chinese (in which i don’t speak). Every minute of my day is planned with a task. If I’m not lesson planning, I’m changing out the stuff on the walls because *yes* I did get in trouble for not having them changed out. If I’m not doing that I’m resupplying the room with materials and cleaning supplies. And if I’m not doing that I’m shutting down the room with 17 kids still in it because I’m given exactly 8 minutes to shut down the room without children. I got in trouble for not staying late to wash their bottles. I stayed 45 minutes late the last couple of days to get the room cleaned.

I’m extremely frustrated. I have spoken to my directors about multiple times. I’m now afraid that because her original co teacher doesn’t really lesson plan either my admin will think it’s better to split up the two lesson planners (my original co teacher) and keep us with two non lesson planners to make the rooms run better. Which I understand to a degree. But I will be quitting if they do that.

My one year old class has recently started the dreaded “everybody scream for no reason!” hobby. As soon as one starts yelling, two more start, and a minute later it’s the entire class. My coteacher and I have successfully stopped it a few times with suddenly singing a song really loud to match the energy, turning off the lights, and gently holding their hands and saying shhhh. Sometimes we literally can’t hear eachother over it and have to just wait til they get bored. We do not like raising our voices or yelling at the class to stop. Does anyone have any fool proof methods to curb this behavior?

Hello everyone,

I need your opinions on something. I’m trying to get a job in a children centre and I passed the pre screen calling. Now I have a group interview. It’s gonna be 1.5-2 hours approximately. They want me to lead a 5 minute activity but I have never done that. What kind if activity they want. Are there gonna be children for this activity? If anyone experienced similar things like this, can you help me please?

Thank you.

Interviewing for an early start position for children 0-2. Admin or teachers what do you look for? What are red flags? What assessments do you use, preferably in CA to assess? I need the best advice to get my dream job and learn more about everything there is to know about the profession.

Every mini fridge we’ve had ends up not working after a while, it feels so wasteful. We’ve tried maintenance. We don’t have room for a full sized fridge. What brand do you guys use in your rooms? Preferably slightly bigger than smallest mini

What callbacks or audio cues do you like to grab your class’s attention for transitions, etc.? I know some people like a doorbell or a chime. I used to use a rhythmic clap for kinder. Just looking for ideas.

There’s a girl who quit and left for 3 months. I took her spot in her room (I asked as I’ve always wanted to be in that room). She decided to come back, now I’m no longer in the room. I’m sure this is probably common in the daycare world. Just wanted to vent for a second, it’s very frustrating as I had built a bond with the kids.

I need help. My 2yo was expelled from playschool last month because of she's just biting her friends too much. (She's still at the school until end of month)

She's an only child, has gone to daycare since 3 months and has been in this playschool since January. Class size is 5 studsnts to 1 teacher although they'll usually combine two classes but with the same. 1:5 ratio.

School has been incredibly patient, but it's just happened way too often (over 20 biting incidents + a few scratching incidents)

Daughter is pretty verbal with us, can use up to 4 words pretty regularly and talks to teachers pretty well too

But teachers have indicated her classmates (all 2yo) may not be as verbal as her and she doesn't appear to talk to her peers. But she supposedly plays fine with them though prefers to play on her own.

The principal tells us that most incidents are unprompted, that my daughter will just randomly attack a friend. Sometimes its because a friend bumped into her or they were fighting over a toy.

We have tried to teach her to ask for help from a teacher (she can say the words), we've read the Biting Solution, put on the puppet show, tried to teach her that it hurts when she bites and that it makes people sad, played We Don't Put Our Teeth On People, gotten her those silicone biting toys meant as therapy tools for kids with autism, tried to get the teachers to help teach her to ask for help, but nothing seems to stick,

She knows she's not supposed to bite her peers ("Bite friend no no/no bite friend") that she's supposed to bite the toy, but the lesson doesn't seem to stick.

She has also recently started hitting at home, mostly during bed time. Again she knows its a no no, and we try to teach her to stomp (she refuses to do so) or to ask for attention another way (shaking me if i fall asleep before she does instead of smacking me).

Worse she has started to refuse to say that biting/hitting is a no no, and becoming quite willful. Like she will actively ignore me if i try to talk to her about this.

I'm really at a loss. She has had four sessions with an occupational therapist who suggested we try to give oral stimulation, (she also suggested the biting toy)

The therapist even visited her class once and maybe because my daughter managed to recognise the therapist, she behaved quite well but was quiet. She then scratched a friend not long after the therapist left.

Therapist said that she might have selective mutism but couldn't make a conclusive diagnosis.

We find that she's just shy with people she hasn't interacted with in a while (like grandparents or cousins) but once she warms up she'll talk.

We're sending her to a different school next month that's meant for 3 yo (we were planning to send her in January but the school is willing to take her in) and we're hoping having older morr well behaved peers will be a good example.

But i want to try and fix this before she goes there. I don't want her to be kicked out again because she loves going to school (absolutely no tears on the first day, didn't even look back to say goodbye).

The current school while patient, i don't think is equipped to help. Teachers are caring but inexperienced. When i suggested an action plan (as per The Biting Solution) i didn't get a committed answer. I had to remind them during a parent teaching meeting to at least try to teach her to say "teacher help" if she encounters frustrating situations.

They've only just recently managed to consistently stop biting attempts (once today and two last week).

Sorry for word dump and if its all over the place. Help.

Additional info if relevant, i have adhd

My son is now the oldest in his class, 31 months. I was told last month that he and 2 other classmates (his friends) were all a bit too old for the class, but that they would be moved together once the older class had space. Now, they moved those other two students without him, and he is the oldest in his class by, I think 2 whole months. Many of them being much younger.

First I was told this was due to capacity. He is younger than one of those 2 classmates for sure, but I don’t know about the other one. Still, I understand that nothing can be done if he is in fact the youngest. But capacity wasn’t an issue when they mentioned all 3 moving together. When I inquired further about this, I was told that actually it was due to a behavioral issue in the older class. So they don’t think adding my son to a class with behavioral issues is a good idea? Then I was told that he would move up next month when all the pre-k left to go to kindergarten there would be a huge shift. Who knows what they’ll say next.

Well now my sweet boy is struggling. He talks all evening about how he’s a big kid and asks me if he can go to the big kid class, and it breaks my heart. He asks if he can see his (older) friends by name every morning at drop off. And I’m so sad for him.

Is there any reason this could be happening that I’m not seeing? I asked if he was developmentally ready and they said he is. So why would they separate him when they said they wouldn’t?

I am requesting a meeting with the director sometime this week, so I want to go in with an understanding of all the possibilities, because now it sounds like there is room but that they don’t want to move him up for some reason.

And really, how do I make him feel better? Because he is too young to understand why he can’t see all of his friends. (I don’t even know why he can’t see all his friends). He’s been much more emotional and volatile than before. He has always been a really unproblematic kid so this behavior is unusual for him. Any advice would be appreciated.

They are daycare staff in a non-teaching position so probably does not have childcare training to my knowledge. But they still stop by to say hi to the kids every day. On monday, they were giving the kids hugs and a 2 year said “can you give me a kiss on the lips?” and they said “on the lips?” and i saw them bend down and possibly do just that? except the room was a bit dark since naptime was starting soon so i didnt want to assume the worst. the child walked away without asking again, so maybe they did fulfill the request. after the staff member left, i asked the child, “did __ kiss you on the lips” to which they responded “yeah.” but i probably shouldn’t have asked a leading question like that.

i feel like i should report it but i just reported another teacher a while ago (and as far as i know there were no consequences to that teacher) and im worried the center will think i am trying to stir things up… both staff have been working here years longer than i and… i dont know, am i overreacting? or is it going to seem suspicious that i waited to report it?

Hi everyone,

I'm an ECE in Canada and currently at home on maternity leave with my 9 month old. I have been with older kids my entire career (18 months to 4 years) and have very little experience with babies.

My son has started hitting me in the face, scratching at my face and pulling my hair when he is upset. Yesterday, he was so angry ( I wouldn't let him hit the cat, i know, how rude of me) he very aggressively scratched at my face and even drew blood under my ear all while screaming.

When he hurts me, I look at him in his eyes, say no very firmly and put him down in a safe place (playpen or crib). I honestly feel like I've forgotten how to be an ECE since having my baby and I dont know what else to do. He is starting daycare in a month and I am really afraid of him doing the same to other kids or to my coworkers.

Any advice on appropriate approaches to correcting this behavior? Any advice would be amazing. Please dont judge me too harshly, I have pretty bad PPD right now on top of everything.

I had left this amazing center that was clean, spacious (especially the playground), and had the same leadership since before they were aquisitioned.. Directors assisted in every way possible. However,

I simply was not strong enough for school age.

(Which is a shame because I was doing a great job)

But they didnt have enough staff to open up a 4 year old room (pre-k). My preferred age group.

I switch jobs. Have basically a breakdown from the stress. (ER visit twice for anxiety attack) (the center was in shambles).

Im now a master teacher though! My college courses had to be entered manually who knew /s

They are opening the 4 year old room and are happy to have me up there!! They need to have master teachers to enroll more children!!

I am so happy to be able to have this group of children!

They already let me know when I left I would be welcome back with open arms and they were serious :)

All I hope for all of you is to be where you are happy and can be the best caregiver/teacher you can be.

I gotta get up at 6am and it’s almost midnight lol lord help me give me energy for these kids tomorrow

Hi all,

I have been in k-8 education and childcare for around 6 years on and off. I have taken theories of care, guidance and gentleness coming from montessori seriously while recognizing their contradictions, whiteness etc.

I just was hired at a program that has infants - school age kids. In the pre-k room that I was hired to lead, I am dealing with the long term sub for my position (who is still scheduled for some reason) strong arming the classroom into silence or compliance through erupting in loud bursts, screaming at single students to stop certain behaviors and producing responses of embarrassment, shame, and fear on a very frequent basis. This method of instruction is the sub’s primary one, only taking on a curious or embodied tone in a sort of laborious manner as per my suggestion. This substitute seems to understand the efficacy of producing those emotions in students, yet fails to take seriously the long term consequences as well as the general lack of actual change of behavior that it produces. The kids are essentially motivated by shock and fear all day. This sub also seems frustrated to the point that she is moving students bodies in a questionable way, forcing them to sit down in their chairs using a hand on the hip and their head at times. The children and bright, curious, many are very open minded and pretty much ubiquitously having attentive parents, and have only mild to moderate routine behavioral issues.

The overhead also seems to encourage her behavior, sometimes making fun of it but never necessarily taking any opposition to it.

I feel very alone coming from a montessori background into an environment where teachers are extremely disconnected from the students and calling them crude, anglicized or otherwise butchered versions of their names, giving them strange, non educational tasks or no real guidance at all throughout the day. The sub is keen on the classroom being quiet, yet is often the loudest one in it.

Has anyone been like me in a place where this dominant culture of neglecting and treating the child as an antagonist is commonplace in daycare/preschool settings? I get that this is rooted in people’s own experiences of neglect and self-neglect, but how can I push curiosity and gentleness onto them? How can I preserve my energy and not feel so drained after witnessing this stuff? How can I spearhead my prerogative of care and attention in a place like this? Should I just leave and accept that I’m not going to make this place any better in any meaningful way? This culture also has a serious passive aggression, lack of privacy (joking about children’s diagnoses or perceived dis/abilities in the classroom) and general apathy toward the actual objective of the work we are doing here: preparing them to be productive and thoughtful members of society.

Hi everyone 👋 so I have an interview coming up for prek-3 lead teacher at a daycare/school and I have 3 years experience as an assistant. I actually would say I was the lead teacher my first year because my “lead” didn’t know how to use a computer her words not mine. I did tadpoles, photos, emailed admin and parents, wrote progress reports, used PowerSchool for attendance, and carried out lessons. The only thing I did not have access to was creative curriculum to read the lessons and prep for them. I think I’m good with children and the only thing that is scaring me is the classroom management aspect as some kids we’ve had have been rough like the type to hit, climb on top of tables, hide under tables, etc. I believe we may have had some students that had Audhd but the principal basically told us to just manage. I’m also scared of doing conferences with parents. Can anyone offer any advice? I don’t want to not have control of my classroom and get made to look like a fool cause in my last school if you did anything wrong you were harshly criticized. They are also only paying $36,000 a year based in nj. Thank you to everyone who replies. ❤️

Hi, I am finishing my practicum next week but have 2 job interviews lined up. How do I make myself stand out from other educators? I want to secure my spot in childcare but I worry I won’t ever be able to.

Do any other ECEs feel like, even when parents bring our concerns and observations up to their pediatrician, the doctor often brushes them aside? Or is this just a "me" thing?

I recently gave parents a page of observations on behaviors I was seeing from their little one that strike me as so much MORE than I typically see for their age (no so-called misbehaviors, but lots of EXTRA energy -- can't move without running, constantly shouting in class, struggles to follow any directions, constantly distracted, lots of wild movement around the classroom, needs WAY more redirection and constant guidance than I tend to see at this age). I had a couple of conversations with the parents, and outlined what strategies we're using at school, asked what they see at home, and they seemed to also wonder if there was something *more* going on. They brought observations to the dr. at his recent appointment and the dr said that it was all normal for his age.

I'm trying not to be irritated at it, but I'm having a hard time, especially because this has happened before -- I see issues, the doctor says everything is fine and then I feel like the crazy one. Meanwhile, the behaviors persist but the parents are satisfied because their dr has said it's normal, so myself and my co-teacher are left trying our best with a student who seems like they could benefit from additional help, but aren't getting any.

(I'm open to parents' perspective on this, also.)

I have taught at a preschool for two years now and I worked as a floater and a permanent sub mostly for the fours and five-year-olds.

I got a job offer at a different school for my own kindergarten class where I would fully be on my own and we would have a floater come in only three days a week.

The class size is sort of large, so I’d like any advice on how I can navigate the first few weeks on my own. Do you recommend any methods to explain explaining classroom rules? Is there a way I can get the kids to me more comfortable at expressing themselves? Any solid advice helps! I’m anxious but super excited as well!