1. Want to be a Positive Parent? : Click Here
    Dismiss Notice

Daycare Staff Not Very Interactive - Is This The Norm?

Discussion in 'Toddlers' started by Bubbles, Feb 28, 2019.

  1. Feb 28, 2019 #1
    Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    208
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Gender:
    Female
    We have been sending LO (3 yrs) to daycare for a few months now. It was primarily to give her opportunities to socialise with other kids her age, as she is an only child. While she seems to enjoy her daycare activities, and talks about her friends, she doesn't engage with them, or talk to them or play with them. She does observe everything they do, though.
    Her 'teacher' isn't very ...uhm, how do you put it... interactive/encouraging with the kids.. I mean casual interaction and talking to the kids around, besides telling them what to do or teaching/telling stories. Is this how it is in most daycares in US?
    Are children usually left to themselves unless they are troublesome, with various scheduled activities offered to them, with only supervision/telling them what to do but little direct interaction/encouragement?

    I understand it is not easy to take care of so many kids, and the staff do have a lot of stuff to maintain as well.. I am not really looking for one-on-one care... more like watching her and pulling her in now and then when she stays aloof for long etc.
    Just want to know what I can expect..

    Will a different type of care program eg. preschool program, or montessori or some other type of care setup address this better, or are they also the same?
     
    Bubbles, Feb 28, 2019
    Bubbles, Feb 28, 2019
    #1
    Loading...

    Similar Threads
    1. sanjuruby3

      Toddler In Daycare

      sanjuruby3, Sep 30, 2021, in forum: Toddlers
      Replies:
      5
      Views:
      1,751
      AnkitaSharma14
      Oct 13, 2021
    2. Sunshine04

      Daycare Costs

      Sunshine04, Aug 1, 2019, in forum: General Discussions
      Replies:
      5
      Views:
      1,019
      MalStrom
      Aug 2, 2019
    3. sanjuruby3

      Nanny Or Daycare

      sanjuruby3, Jul 17, 2019, in forum: Infants
      Replies:
      9
      Views:
      1,460
      sanjuruby3
      Jul 29, 2019
  2. Mar 1, 2019 #2
    Rihana

    Rihana Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

    Messages:
    12,503
    Likes Received:
    30,273
    Trophy Points:
    540
    Gender:
    Female
    Does your child go for lesser hours each day or per week than most of the other kids? This could be one reason for what you have described. Also, the other kids might be meeting for playdates outside of the daycare.
    How did you learn that she doesn't engage or talk or play with them? You couldn't have observed her for the entire duration of her time there on a given day. Teacher told you?

    The short answer would lean towards a yes. Home-based daycares will "mind" the child and make sure she is fed, clean and dry, taking part in some activities, and generally happy. The advantage is that they will be more willing to make accommodations for the child if parent wants, such as allowing child to eat a little later or earlier than others. They are also more helpful with potty-training.

    Yes. If child is mostly happy when you pick and drop her, then, let it be. If you badly want to ask teacher to do more, then, be very specific in your request. Butter that with lots of praise for the teacher. You may want to skip remarks on the teacher's job not being easy. That comment has a way of being taken wrongly by a not very interactive warm/loving teacher.

    Your expectation is reasonable but might be out of place in a home daycare. It also depends on the personality of the teacher.

    This reminds me of similar questions I had when my kids were in preschool. Usually, you will never know for sure. You could try another type of care or provider, and that might work simply because child is older or finds a good friend.

    If the place is clean, child is happy, let it be. No place is perfect, and the perfect teachers sometimes leave the perfect place. : )
     
    Rihana, Mar 1, 2019
    Rihana, Mar 1, 2019
    #2
    Vaikuntha likes this.
  3. Mar 25, 2019 #3
    Bubbles

    Bubbles Silver IL'ite

    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    208
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Gender:
    Female
    @Rihana, Thank you for your reply.
    Wise words.

    Didn't want to meddle with LO's routines etc, but she was pretty uninvolved, and was often a spectator rather than a participant... so we bit the bullet, and changed her to a different place where interpersonal interaction is encouraged. Really anxious, but she seems to be doing alright, despite complaining initially that she wanted to go to the old place, see her friends and teacher (at 3!!!!)...
    Of course, I think the lack of a facility to monitor her constantly (which was available in the previous centre) also makes a significant difference (to us parents)!:tonguewink:
     
    Bubbles, Mar 25, 2019
    Bubbles, Mar 25, 2019
    #3
    Rihana likes this.

Share This Page