I'm a director of a preschool. My assistant has a child in the program, the child constantly cries and mom

Question

responds when ever she is disciplined, even something very simple.

Any suggestions???

Answer 1

Yes, you need to talk to her and explain that while her daughter is there it is up to her teacher to discipline the child, not her.  That if she keeps interfering with the child's teacher, she will have to find another facility to watch her while she is at work!  What if every parent interfered with the teacher disciplining the children???

Answer 2

try to put the child not in the same place with her mother.As a preschool teacher it would be difficult to teach your own family.Realizing or not, the way we teach to other children that has the same class with our own children would be different.

Answer 3

I have had this same situation at 2 of the previous centers I have worked at, except it was the directors' children.  I agree that the best thing to do is sit down and talk to your assistant.

Explain to her that while she is at work, her child is like every other child in the center and she can only respond to something that she would for every child in the center.

I think the main thing is you are going to have to set some boundaries for her.  Obviously, it will be difficult at first but you can't let this keep happening.  It shows the other children that the teacher is not respected by your assistant, because she always responds.

Definitely talk to her.

Answer 4

I have worked in preschools and had both my children attend the school where I worked.  I always made sure that my own children would not conflict with my work with the children in my care by having my child in a separate room than the one I worked in.  That way, another teacher is responsible for the discipline of my child, not me.  There are times when the classes are together on the playground, at which times I say a happy hello to my toddler, but always defer to her teacher when it comes time to discipline.  Since mom can't seem to be able to separate herself from this situation, it sounds as if you need to do it for her...  Next time an issue comes up, step in before mom can and say, "Don't worry, (another teacher's name) will handle it."  Talk about this with your staff ahead of time- mom included so she doesn't feel ganged up on.  During a staff meeting, mention that you have noticed what is going on and that you don't think it is being an effective technique for the child.  Then say that you are going to try a new plan- when there is an issue with the child, another teacher will step in and mom will step back.  If you enact this together, you will accomplish your goal much easier than if you "attack".  Then, you and the other staff have to help mom follow through- if they see her start to cave- they have to step in and stop her from reacting.  It will take a while, but the sooner that mom can separate herself at work from mom and preschool teacher, she and her child will be much more easily able to co-exist in the same preschool.

Answer 5

Tell her that you need her to be focused on her job. That while it is great that she can be there for her child, she also needs to let some things go. It sounds like this has been going on for a while and it will probably take a while for her child to get used to the fact that she won't be responded to every time she cries. Is there a way to have her working in a place where the child can't see her? Maybe you should suggest that she take her child to another facility while she's working. Also, let her know that coming to her child's rescue if she is disciplined is not helpful to the child and is selfish on her part. Explain to her that the other children have to learn to "play by the rules" and hers does too.

Answer 6

My mom was my preschool teacher, and now, thirteen years later, I work for her at her center (I've had those moments myself).  One of the teachers where I work had two children at the center, and the same situation occurred.  The best way we found was (however horrible it sounds) to separate them when they got to school.  If one of the kids had an issue that required disciplining, another teacher handled it.  If that doesn't work, I suggest you sit down, as a friend, not necessarily a director, and tell her that at work, her kids become her students and they need to be disciplined just like everyone else.  As a teacher, she should understand that.

Answer 7

I WOULD GET RID OF HER