Is something wrong or am I paranoid?

[Anonymous]

DS is 2 and he just started daycare a month ago. He is behind on speech (only jargon, no words yet) so he can't communicate. When DH went to pick him up today, he was outside the classroom being held by an assistant who said he fell and was fussy. When DH asked how he fell, the assistant was very evasive. Last week, when DH went to pick DS up, he was in an empty classroom (the teachers did not know he had left his own classroom). Is something wrong or am I being paranoid?

[Anonymous]

He was in a classroom alone without any adults and his teachers weren't aware he wasn't where he was supposed to be?? Huge problem.

[Anonymous]

something seems off to me-I would investigate further and more aggressively. I am sorry. Good luck.

---mom of toddler and preschool teacher

[Anonymous]

Two things you need to do right away: get him out of that daycare, where he is being left unsupervised and is getting hurt; and 2) get him evaluated and treated for his speech delay. He needs it immediately. With no words at 2, you may well qualify for free early-intervention services though the public school system (even though he isn't technically in the system yet). Call your ped for assistance on how to start the process. Best of luck to you - poor little fella.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was in a classroom alone without any adults and his teachers weren't aware he wasn't where he was supposed to be?? Huge problem.

+1

The sitting in the hallway thing isn't that odd--our daycare staff do it if a kid is upset and needs a quieter place to calm down. But there is no way that I would be okay with a place that let my kid wander off like that.

[Anonymous]

He should be monitored at that age. I would pull him and get him in a situation with less kids, and where there is one person to oversee him. Apparently, too many kids that aren't being watched. That's scary!

[Anonymous]

In DC, children must be withing sight and sound of staff at all times. The hallway thing isn't weird, but the alone in a classroom thing is--and is a violation of licensing standards. I'd share concern with the director if not licensing.

[Anonymous]

If a child gets left alone in a room, they are supposed to self report that to licensing. At least in VA, they are.

I think you need to find a new place. If you are in VA, you can look up inspection reports on the DSS website. That narrows the field quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

I'd bring it up with the teachers and then the director, but it sounds like you might need a new daycare. Also second the idea of getting him checked out by your county's Infant and Toddler program. Even an evaluation would give you a better sense of where you are with his speech delays.

[Anonymous]

Taking aside to help soothe, fine. Being evasive about what happened, not fine. Leaving unattended, not fine. We get accident reports for every little scratch and bump - not telling you what happened sends up big red flags for me.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has had small children with speech delays, I would be very concerned. He cannot tell you what happened and they know it. Kids with speech delays can also get frustrated easily, and I would be more worried that he didn't fall at all, judging by how she acted. Teachers not trained to deal with a small child who cannot communicate well might be inclined to overreact to a child having normal age-appropriate behavior. I would pull him out of there right away – trust your gut.

[Anonymous]

Another vote to trust your instinct. Your husband observed both incidents - what does his instinct tell him?

[Anonymous]

you aren't paranoid. That's neglect. They didn't know he left the classroom? Find a new daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you aren't paranoid. That's neglect. They didn't know he left the classroom? Find a new daycare.

Agreed. The other thing is subjective, but this is squarely in the camp of pull him immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In DC, children must be withing sight and sound of staff at all times. The hallway thing isn't weird, but the alone in a classroom thing is--and is a violation of licensing standards. I'd share concern with the director if not licensing.

+1