My son is 3 and a half and still attending the two year old classroom at his school. He goes to a private daycare / preschool that is run out of a church. He's been there for a year and a half and has watched all of his original classmates move up into the next class. At first we were told that he couldn't move up until he was potty trained. But now he has been for three months and still isn't being moved. Now I've learned that the teachers in the next classroom don't want him in their room until he quits bringing his blanket to school. Since this Class still takes naps I feel that he should be able to have his blanket. Originally not needing a blanket was not a requirement for moving up. Should my son have outgrown needing a blanket by now, or are his teachers being unreasonable?
Wow! For a minute there I thought I was wrong about this. Your responses have been very reasuring. Thank you all!!! My son's father and I are currently looking for a new school. I hate to change, but I tried to talk to his teachers and got four different reasons. I talked to the director and got another different reason and decided that the massive miscommunication is not something I want affecting my son's education or care. Adding this on top of the fact that twice in two weeks at the begining of this month he was outside without a coat (I left this out on purpose because I wasn't sure about the other issues), I just don't want him there anymore.
I don't think he shouldn't be able to bring his blanket at all. My daughter is 6, almost 7, and still loves her blankie. Maybe if he puts it away until nap time that would be better.
There is no school that would want to take the "blankie" away from a child. It is his comfort and for someone to say that should be a red flag. When he does not need his blankie for comfort he will leave it behind. For someone to make him give it up will only make the stress that much more.
Honestly, I hope you are looking for a new daycare. He will give up that blanket when he is ready.
I think that the teachers are being unreasonable ("they don't WANT" him???) Since when do teachers get to decide who they WANT in their classes? Is the blanket truly the issue? Maybe there is something else that they aren't telling you??? Is he mentally/developmentally ready to move up? Is he disruptive? There has got to be a better reason to not "want" him in their class than a blanket, I mean he's only 3 1/2!!
Maybe you should find a more progressive/understanding school; especially if you are paying for him to go to this one.
Personally, I believe that peer pressure would motivate your son to quit wanting to take the blanket to school if he were moved to the proper class with his peers...especially if no one else has a blankie.
And besides, my God, life has too many hardships as it is...let the kid take his blanket to high school if he wants to! :)
Good luck.
I used to teach kindergarten in a Christian school. There are so many different schools of thought on maturity. I would not begin to advise you on that specific topic. I would like to give you a gem of advice for the years ahead with your children's education. The relationship you build with your child's teacher will mean so much in his educational journey. I encourage parents to meet the teacher early on in the year, as soon as is possible actually. If you establsh a face to face rapport, then if any situations come up that are less than favorable, you already have a solid foundation to build on. The oversight most parents make is to wait until a situation arrives, then their first encounter with the teacher has too many elements going on at once. Hope that helps!
It sounds to me like the teachers are being unreasonable. Every child has a right to something that is comforting and if your childs blanket is comforting to your son then he should be allowed to have it. My son is 5 years old and still sleeps with his blanket and I've told him he can hold on to his blanket until he's in his 20's if he wants. He's not sucking his thumb, a bottle or a pacifier and I don't see anything wrong with a blanket. It's perfectly natural and healthy for a three year old (and older if they choose) to have some kind of lovey. I would switch him to a different school that is more understanding of his needs.
We take our 8 month old son to Little Treasures which is home based if you're interested. We absolutely love them and I would recommend taking a look.
I KNOW that they are not being professional or reasonable. Kids at that age need their attachments to help them cope sometimes and to take everything away before they even understand why is a big mistake. I would look for another preschool that you and they agree on these issues. It is not a BUSINESS...it is about human beings...babies...young ones.
You are the mother and if you do not feel right about something, it is usually a correct feeling. Your job is to nurture and protect your little one before anything else.
Good luck!
i know this is a bit late but i was enraged reading about your problem at your sons school. I absolutely think you should find a new school for him, even if they suddenly decide to let him move up. kids spend so much time at school they should e able to funtcion as if around parents. if he wants his blankie absolutely let him have it. it would be a heartbreak otherwise. my two and a half year old girls bring their tigger (one each at school). we just moved and first thing i said to the director is my girls will bring a stuffed animal at school. i wasn't asking nor was i allowing her to say otherwise. iw as making a statement. and please when you find a place for your son make sure you tell the director and the teachers that this issue will be made known to prospective students and parents. they freak out when it comes to 'reputation.'
good luck
I think you may be right, that his teachers are asking for something that is unreasonable. Even kids as old as 4 and 5 can be expected to have "comfort items" or "loveys". My 4-year-old has a small plastic toy raccoon named Squirrel that goes with him everywhere, but stays in his pocket. Perhaps you can convince your little one to take some small pocket-sized thing in the stead of his blanket. His blanket reminds him of the security of home. Maybe you can talk him into taking a pocket-sized picture of your family with him, or a piece of an old blanket that can be more easily parted with... something of that nature. We all sometimes need items in our lives to help us feel secure. That's why there's a market for Cross-in-my-Pocket coins, worry stones, and ladies' handbags. Hopefully the teachers won't be so unreasonable that a compromise can't be reached. Ask them why he can't have his blanket for nap-time. There has to be some reason beyond "policy". I wish you the best of luck!
hello, my name is C... i am in the military and my son turns 3 the 21st of this month.. if you live near base let me know... I will be more than happy to hang out when i am not at work...
Hi R.. I used to be a Preschool teacher in a 4 year old classroom in Hillsboro. Almost all of my 4 y/o's still had accidents and still had blankets to comfort them during nap time. Heck, my husband still snuggles with his baby blanket from time to time!! I think you should talk with the director of your preschool and find out what really is going on. Perhaps your son does not get along with another child in the 3's room and they want to separate them. If you cant find anything out, and if the blanket is seriously the problem, I think you should look around at other schooling options. Your son is normal and those teachers are mean! Good luck.
Please take this all as informational as I do not know your son. I teach preschool and make all the decisions about who moves up and who doesn't. In response to Stephanie asking 'since when do schools decide who moves up', the answer is, since they are privatly owned and just as with any business, can refuse service. I can't say this is right, especially when making decisions is based on carrying a blanket. But if a child is agressive, disruptive, etc. it is good to have the option. I think, more important than WHY they aren't moving him up, is whether it is the right decision. There is a huge difference between the 2-3s and the 3-4s. It is a disservice to a child to move them up too early. If they have not mastered coloring in the lines (how cliche) and the class will be learning to write thier names, they will always feel behind. Sometimes the little extra time can be good. I only say this because so many parents (and teachers) look to milestones like potty training to determine a child's academic readiness for a Pre-K. There are so many more important factors and every child is so differnt we have to look at the combination of everything to make the decision. Also, in my school, the older class is very much like a K class with a set curriculum. So bringing a kid in two years before K means they will end up doing two years of the class rather than two years of the more exploratory preschool play. Some parent prefer one over the other, just something to consider. I would advise asking to sit in on you childs class for an houror two and do your own evaluation. If after that you feel your son is best off in the higher class, make it happen or move him.
Oh, and I forgot to mention... I am 27 years old and I have slept with the same teddy bear since my fifth birthday. It came to the hospital with me when my own children were born and I used it to prop my arms up to nurse them. There is a time and place for everything, but your son IS normal to want this comfort.
You poor woman. Please call me. I have become a pro at teacher and staff debates, demands, and general pissiness.I am so sorry that you and your son are having to deal with this. This is a situation that doesn't and should have to happen. I can explain a lot about this subject but the typing would take forever. Again please call me I want to help. Just remind me who you are and what it's about. I don't give my number to very many people so unusual calls need reminders.I have sent ny number in a private message.
well i used to do daycare and personally i think they are being unreasonable! being that your son is still fairly young, he probably uses that blanket for security! and need it escpecially since they still do nap time. i would highly suggest talking to them about this and if it doesnt work them maybe you need to find someone who isnt going to discriminate against your son.
jessi
Hi! I'm M., 24, a full time student and a single mother of a 3 soon to be 4 year old as well! I live in Corvallis and my son goes to Kindercare. He had to wait to move up until he was potty trained too, and so he was a bit behind his classmates, but they still encouraged bringing his blanket after he moved up. I think your sons school is being very unreasonable. My son has since been potty trained and moved up, and we take his blanket every day for nap time. The only time they had to hold off moving him was when there wasn't enough room in the older class, so I am really surprised the blanket is such a big deal!
I think they are being totally unreasonable. My 10, 9, and 6 year old still sleep with their blankets. They don't require them to sleep or anything, but like to have them for whatever reason. I think at your child's age having a blanket is just fine, especially cause it's probably all he has of his while he's away from all his toys, comforts, and mom all day long. I can understand the potty training thing. That makes sense, and I think most places are like that.Maybe you should have a serious sit down with the provider.
It sounds like their must be a different reason than what they are telling you. If you don't get a real answer, maybe you should find another daycare. There are plenty out there that won't discriminate because of a blanket. Good luck.
I would find another school. If they are keeping him back because of a blanky then they are completely unreasonable, but if there is another reason and they aren't telling you then that is also a big problem. What would give them the right to LIE to you and make up a phony reason? You're his mother! You should be told every detail!
I would be furious. It's just preschool. It's not like he is in 1st grade where the kids would make fun of him. If you really like the school have a one on one talk with the teacher. If you want to change schools do so you dont have to put up with that, and if its like most preschools you are paying for him to go there. Its not like its public school. I guess thats what I would do. I speak my mind and if you are putting your hard earned money into something I would say something. Sorry just hang in there. Happy Holidays!!!!!
