Special Needs & Inclusion

Some daycare parents want to 'discuss' the new child in our toddler room

indigo_marigold_7034

A new boy joined my daughter's room at daycare this month. He's older than the others, not walking yet, and a support aide comes in with him a few mornings a week. Happy kid. My daughter has already decided he's her friend. Yesterday two parents in the daycare group asked whether the staff would 'have enough time for everyone else' and suggested we raise it together at the next parents' meeting. A few thumbs up. Nobody has said anything against it yet, including me. I want to say something, but not as a fight in a group his parents might end up reading. As far as I can tell they aren't in it. How have others handled this?

5 comments

  • linen_bookmark_4448

    The group is the worst place for it. I'd message the daycare head directly, say you've seen the thread and that you're happy with how the room is going. Centres notice when parents speak up quietly for a child, not only against one.

  • cobalt_wave_225

    My daughter's class has had a child with a shadow teacher since grade 1. There was a similar round of questions in the first month. What ended it was the class teacher explaining at a PTM how the support worked, and that the shadow teacher often helps the other kids too. Parents mostly worry about what they can't see. Could you ask the daycare to explain the aide's role at the meeting, so it doesn't turn into a 'discussion' about him?

    • fennel_basket_9157

      Agree. I am looking at daycares for my son right now and the thing I check first is how many staff per child. If that number is fine, one child needing more help is the daycare's job to plan for, not something for parents to vote on.

    • indigo_marigold_7034

      Replying to @fennel_basket_9157

      ratio was going to be my angle too. if staffing is fine there's nothing left to discuss. if it isn't, that's a problem for every child in the room, including him

  • peach_spoon_7993

    say it in the group. one line. 'we're glad he's in the room.' you'd be surprised how many people are waiting for someone else to go first

  • orchid_bottle_4106

    I'd do both. A short, calm message in the group, so that if his parents ever see it they know not everyone signed on. Then a word with the centre. A thumbs up on a group message costs nothing; most of those people won't say a word at the actual meeting.

    • indigo_marigold_7034

      did both in the end. one line in the group, two parents replied with hearts, the original pair went quiet. spoke to the centre head this morning, she said they review the aide arrangement with his family regularly anyway. we'll see what the meeting looks like

  • cobalt_tiffin_5633

    Good that you posted. Our son's preschool had a thread like this last year and it fizzled out once a couple of parents said they were fine with it.

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