advice needed for transitioning to a new daycare for my Two year old

[Anonymous]

My two year old daughter switched to the preschool/two year old room at her daycare a few months ago and I'm not really pleased with the teacher. I and other parents with whom I've spoken with don't feel she is a very warm and nuturing person for this age group. Some have said she's seems to border on rude to the children (granted they are two year olds, but still deserve respect) and I myself have heard her raise her voice to another child--and my daughter seems a little overwhelmed by the older kids that are often in the room later in the day when I pick her up (they group them together after 5pm). I thought about talking to the head teacher at the school, but I don't know if that will change things much and I don't want the teacher to perhaps take anything out on my child.

In addition, I work part time and recently switched jobs and the daycare is now a 20 minute drive in the other direction. I only work two and a half days a week, so its not a huge inconvenience, but I think i would like to change her to another daycare nearer to my condo that has an opening and a neighbor's child attends and recommended. I also took a bit of a pay cut (my other part time job was turning into part time pay with almost full time hours) so something less expensive is starting to sound more appealing.

I have a few concerns about making a transition 1) we are going out of town for two weeks for vacation over the holidays which is going to disrupt her routine too. 2) I had wanted to start potty training soon and now feel I should change daycares sooner than later so that she can adjust before trying potty training and 3) I hope to move to either a townhouse or house--- most likely not in our current neighborhood in 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years and that would be another transition for her-- on top of her starting kindergarten another 1 1/2 years to 2 years after that.

I'm feeling guilty about moving her due to all that change in the next few years--- but at the same time I feel where she is at is not the best place for her.

Any advice? Anyone who has changed daycares how have you done the transition? how did it work? I feel my daughter seems to be a bit more of a sensitive child and although not developmentally behind is not as advanced as many of her peers in speaking too and I worry she won't be able to communicate with me any problems or fears she is having.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If you are going to switch her, is there any way you can start at the new one right after the holidays? Yes, it is two disruptions all at once...but it's sort of like returning to a fresh start. She will have been away from the old day care for two weeks anyway. I don't know what your schedule is like, but maybe start with a half day or two before jumping into the full days. I'm sure she'll go through a week or two of transition, but that's a lot better than spending a number of months or a year with a teacher that isn't nurturing.

All that said, do you know how your child feels about the teacher? One of my son's teachers strikes me as being...less than warm. She doesn't seem rude at all, but my experience has been that it's like pulling teeth to get a conversation going with her. I didn't worry too much because his other teacher is a complete firecracker (and I mean that in the most positive of ways). But yet, whenever he mentions the quiet teacher, he has a big grin on his face and says he likes her and that she's nice. I would just be wary of judging a teacher only based on how she is during pickup and drop off times. Since you work at least one half day, it sounds like you probably have at least one day a week where this isn't the case. All I'm saying is, I know now that my impression of a teacher turned out to be wrong. But really, if you have a concern, I would just move her sooner rather than later. Sure, she'll have some additional changes in the future. But kids adapt better than you expect--especially at this age. She may bond with her new teacher right away and the fact that a neighbor (familiar face) is there already should make it even easier.