Daycare Center Advice

The legal ratio in Colorado is 7:1. That means you can only have seven children to one adult (if the kids are age 2). So... if this is a real place, it's already operating outside the law.

That said, having a five year old in with two year olds is an awful idea. If this is a legitimate daycare center, why haven't any of the parents complained?

I totally agree with you. If his behavior is disruptive, then he has no place there. I went through a somewhat similar situation, but as a parent. My daughter's 4 year old room was having the administrative's almost 8 yr old son in with them on a daily basis. He was being home schooled and had a tutor coming to the daycare/preschool for him, but he was spending a lot of time there, and I didn't agree with it, he was an Ok (not super great) behaved child, but there was such a developmental age gap, and it was blatant, that I had to voice my concern, and found out that one of the teachers felt the same as I, but couldn't do anything about it, until a parent (me), put in a complaint. I went to the director, and also learned that another parent said something too. They did remove him, so I was happy. Point is, I think it would take parents voicing concern, then they should do the right thing. If you get any parents asking questions about that child, tell them to talk to the director about their concerns. Good luck. You're a great teacher ;)

I agree with the other posters about how unwise this situation is, but I have another question. Your two year old room has a ratio of 1:10? In NY, the required ratio is 1:4, except in things like gym daycare, which is short term. Are rules that different in CO? I would think that would make handling an extra unruly five year old even harder.

Your director is making a huge mistake. She is risking the safety of all of the children in that classroom just to not have to have one child leave the center. As a director I suggest you and the head teacher go to her and explain your concerns. If that child hurts another child under your watch I can guarantee you she isn't going to have your back, therefore putting the extra work and responsibility on you. The parents of the child should be spoken to by the director regarding is aggression. I have what we call and Expulsion policy which parents sign when they enroll. There are a list of reasons why a child would have to be removed from my center. I haven't had to use it more then once but it is clear and concise on why a child will have to be expelled from my school. I cannot understand even from an academic viewpoint a director thinks it is acceptable to take a parents money and not provide a child with the education they are paying for, and this child deserves. If the child has such severe behavior issues then he should be evaluated and given the help he deserves so he can learn. This child is falling through the cracks and unfortunately you are unwillingly party to it. Parents will begin complaining because he will hurt their child. I would direct all parents to the director, in the meantime, find a new job. This person does not seem like a person you want to learn from or work for. Also, in NJ there cannot be any more then 20 children in a room regardless of their age. Also 20 children and 2 teachers for 2 year olds is NOT ENOUGH staff. If a teacher is changing diapers that means there is only one staff member looking over 19 children. Check your laws for child teacher ratio's under 2 and a half it is 1 to in NJ. If the director is not compliant you can anonymously call the office of licensing and they will come out and fine her if she is non compliant. Best of luck!!

Your director is making a terrible mistake. She should be addressing this issue with the parents and insisting on behavioral evaluations and therapies if they want him to stay in the program.

Sticking him in with older toddlers does not serve the child at all... he is being failed by the people who most need to be helping him.

I would document every.single.thing that this child does. Would the lead teacher send incident reports home each and every time something happens? That would be a start.

I will also say this, A., as someone who has worked at both a private and nonprofit CDC before having my own preschools... you may want to look around for another place to work. To me, this is a red flag regarding your director. She isn't caring about the age-appropriateness of placing a much older child in with the younger ones. This is a safety concern, but moreover, the older child is not receiving an age-appropriate curriculum. Most parents will also get sick of this and start complaining. I would not make excuses for the director's decision, and if parents complain, direct them to her. "I'm not sure why he's in with the younger children." When directors go above and beyond for a parent with a child whose behavior issues aren't adequately addressed and expect the teachers to just sort of 'deal with it', that's usually a signal that there may be other poor choices/leadership from that individual. Just my experience...

The director isn't very wise. She's risking losing multiple families if she keeps this kid in the center. I saw 3 families leave the daycare I worked at because the director didn't expel a 3 yr old who was constantly terrorizing the other students.

Call your local daycare licensing authority and just ask them if there are rules about the age groups.

I don't know what the law said, but if my 2 year old was in there, I'd be pulling him out.

If I were a parent of a child in that class, I'd be so angry that your director did this.

When is this child leaving for kinder? Will he stay at home during the summer?

I don't want you to lose your job by telling on the director, but what she's doing isn't right to the rest of your children.

It is not a legal issue.. I don't thinbk any lawa are being broken.. but the parent of the almost 5 year olds should be upset..a s should the parents of the 2 year olds that are picked on.

the child should be removed from the school. my kids went to kindercare and even a big old center hoping to make a profit expelled a kid that was too bad for them to handle.

Your center ratio for 2 year olds is not correct. That is the ratio for 3 year olds. If they were inspected by the state, they would be written up.
http://daycare.com/colorado/

Add the miss ratio to an unruley 5 year old and it is NOT a good situation. Do the parents drop this child off in your classroom? Do they pick him up from your room? Or is his presence in your room unknown to his parents. Meaning does he magically go back to the older room right before pick up? If the later, that is a big red flag. The parents have no idea that their child isn't getting the treatment and care that they are paying for. That is not a dig on you, but the daily routine of what my child did and learned at 5y was way more complex than that of when he was 2y.

If you and your coteacher are the only ones that can 'handle' this child, then YOU should be moved to the 5y room and the others should be moved to care for the 2y room.

Classes can be mixed. IF younger kids are in the older classroom that's when it gets to be a ratio issue.

Let me see if I can give an example....

If there is a 3 year old class and a 4 year old class and a 3 year old goes up to the 4 year old classroom that room automatically becomes like a 3 year old classroom and they have to adjust the staff/child ratio's to comply. Instead of having fifteen 4 year olds they have to have a group of 12 with the one 3 year old and 11 4 year olds.

So putting a younger child into the classroom is a big deal but putting 1 older child into a younger classroom they aren't breaking any regulations.....

BUT if I were the parent of this child I would be livid. They are paying good money for their child to be in the preschool classroom and he's getting put with the 2 year olds. They need to boot this child so his parents can find alternative care for him. He probably needs a therapeutic setting instead of regular child care.

If someone was to tell the parents in YOUR classroom that the kids were at risk because the director keeps putting this older mean child in the classroom and the parents decided to tell the director they were going to pull their kids out if she didn't stop that....well, she might decide this child needs to go.

I feel for you. This child is being deprived of the classroom education his parents are expecting him to get, he is not learning social skills for getting along with his peers, he's not learning age appropriate skills that he'll need for kindergarten. I'd be livid he was being put in a 2 year old classroom for these reason's alone.

Here's a link to the Oklahoma state child care regulations. I don't know if you googled the one's for your state or not but I'll try to find them too.

http://www.okdhs.org/NR/rdonlyres/C###-###-####-C005-45D1...

If all else fails you can call your local state agency, where people go to fill out applications for food stamps and child care assistance and ask them how to reach a child care licensing person. Then ask them the questions. They might know exactly what regulation pertains to this BUT they are just employees and might not know or might tell you incorrectly too.

The staff ratio's are on page 11. Same as what I said. The group is mostly the younger kids and as long as he doesn't put the number over the limit he's technically allowed in the classroom, morally, I don't think I'd let my child be in this situation either as a younger child and especially as the parent of the older child. This is morally wrong but not technically legally wrong.

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&...

I would go with my coteacher to the director and explain your concerns again. You might also suggest to parents that comment that you understand their concerns and they can also address the director and their concerns together might have more weight. You might also suggest to the director or his parents that he get an evaluation. They have to know that him being in the 2 yr old room is not normal.

Have the moms complain, the more the better and see if the director keeps thinking is ok. Just tell the moms that you have a 5 year old and that he is aggressive and I am sure ALL of them will complain. I know I would and/or would take my kid out of there fast!

No, this is not acceptable. I would contact your licensing person. They will know what is acceptable and what is not.

If a child is having that many behavior issues, then the parents need to be talked to and some sort of steps taken to address the behavior. Putting him into a classroom that is not developmentally appropriate is NOT okay - especially since he is harming other children. If I were a parent of a 2 year old and knew that was going on, I would NOT be happy.

If your director is not willing to do anything about it, you need to talk to someone higher up - Talk to your licensing specialist. Not sure how things work in CO, but in WI, every licensed day care needs to have posted their license and their "write up" (anything that might have been found "wrong") posted for anyone to see. Along with those documents, the business card of the licensing specialist should be posted for parents to contact should they have any questions/issues.

I have read any other answers, but I worked day care and I do not agree with this. It may not be illegal, but it is wrong on so many other levels. I would say get the parents involved. Do they know their 2 yos are with a 5? Do they know how mean the 5 yo is? Does the 5 yo mom know her son is mean? Maybe it is time he was removed from the center if he can not followthe rules and is mean to the other kids. You are those little kids protector while they are in your care. You need to be their advocate. Treat them like you would your own child.

If I were the daycare, I would ask parents to find a new daycare. Five year
old with two year olds is not acceptable.