Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
As a Parent, when do I step in?
brooks goes to pre-school, he is the youngest in his class by a few months. One of the things I adore about this school is that all the preschool kids come together a few times a day then break off into smaller groups, eat together, etc. He's also there for aftercare which goes until 5. I get there around 330 to pick him up and there is a small core group of kids there everyday.
Last week, his buddy Joshua who is a year older told me, "Brooks hurts me sometimes". I said "Oh, how?", "He bangs me with his head". Just then one of the teachers chimed in, that Brooks is still learning and that he's a lot younger, etc. She's right, and I know about the head bumping which hurts like a b!tch, he calls it booming and thinks its hysterical. I've never seen him do it to other kids and I was so embarrassed. The teacher reassured me that it's not often, only like 3 times total since school started. OK....
Yesterday I get there and Brooks is crying hysterically, like gasping for air. They were outside and he wasn't crying when I first pulled up (I heard all of it). Apparently there is a girl in his class who loves Brooks, and hugs him all the time and treats him like a doll. When I got there and he went into my arms it took me a few moments to calm him. Then I put him down and we started walking inside and she said "No, Brooksie stay here and play with me, you can go get his stuff." A teacher came over and re-directed her.
Do I need to address these things with the parents? It's a tight group and I know the parents. We're not friends, but there is a lot of parental participation at the school.
Re: As a Parent, when do I step in?
For the first situation, it's good that the teacher is aware of it. Are you thinking the parent will come to you saying 'hey, tell your kid to stop hitting my kid?'
As for the second kid, was Brooks crying because the girl is clingy? Does the teacher say he gets upset often with the way the girl is all over him?
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD
1st: It's really more of an ethical thing for me, so the parents know that we are aware and working on it.
2nd: yes, apparently she was "hugging" him, aka choke hold like preschoolers do. No malice I know that. The teacher did mention that she loves Brooks, so I'm inferring that this is a continued pattern.
No, i would address issues with the teachers. The teachers should address issues with the parents if they feel these are things the children need to work at. If you went behind the teachers back to parents it wouldn't come off well.
I would work with brooks that hitting heads isn't something you do, and that if he doesn't want to be hugged/touch that is okay and since he is so verbal he should learn to say no in these situations and put out his hand to put space between him and the other little girl. The teacher did the right thing by redirecting.
#1 12.11.11
#2 10.23.13 EDD