To the parents at my daycare center...

[Anonymous]

Day care teachers are not trained to diagnose or even point out delays or issues. Pediatricians ask about abilities and milestones to catch delays and/or refer to a developmental specialist. Parents may be in denial. It's still not your place to recommend an evaluation.

[Anonymous]

You are absolutely right that daycare providers are not trained to diagnose delays. The actual diagnosis can only be given by a medical doctor. However, they should be able to point out concerns to parents. What is challenging in this area is that the majority of daycare providers in this area just don't have the education and experience to be taken seriously when they share their observations.

[Anonymous]

My daycare teacher may not have the educational background to diagnose Delays, but after 10 years and zillions of kids...I'm sure she can tell if they are on track. When my daughter was slow to walk, she told me. And, she said it looked like shed probably be walking in 2-4 weeks (and she did).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daycare teacher may not have the educational background to diagnose Delays, but after 10 years and zillions of kids...I'm sure she can tell if they are on track. When my daughter was slow to walk, she told me. And, she said it looked like shed probably be walking in 2-4 weeks (and she did).

Exactly. My mom is not a specialist either but she has sure been helpful at putting my mind at ease about a number of things since becoming a parent. We aren't talking about a formal diagnosis, but I'm not sure why a teacher or the Director wouldn't say something. We also have periodic meetings with our daycare provider, as well as meetings every time our child transitions from one room to another, so at 18 months, 24 months, and then to preschool.