Do the Teachers at Your Kids' Daycare Yell?

I can say that at my kid's daycare, I cannot recall hearing kids getting yelled at one single time (except by parents...). Sometimes the teachers raise their voice a little, like to say 'ok everyone, line up!', but not in an angry or annoyed tone. Now, my kids are younger (2 and 4), and I have noticed that the school agers are a bit more rambunctious.

I would be concerned about it, and would talk with the director if it continues to be a problem.

Yikes! Yelling at kids is not the only way, and in fact people who make caring for kids their profession should have more patience, experience and tricks up their sleeves to use other means to get kids to cooperate.

In terms of the school aged kids example, I'd be willing to bet that everyone is having a hard time adjusting back to school from the break, and that could have played a part in the impatience of the teachers. However, again, they've been at this for awhile and should be prepared for what happens and deal with it better.

If I were you I'd do a few pop ins or stay for an extra few minutes at drop off and see how you feel about the attitude of the teachers. Even if they are not actively yelling while you are there, you'll be able to feel the attitude and whether it is one of joy and teaching or "just watching kids."

I have had my son at two preschool / day care centers, and one elementary school, plus an occasional home-based drop-in day care program. I have never, ever heard a teacher yell or use a phrase like "act your age" (though I have used that phrase with my son in some of my less-than-wonderful parenting moments). I've seen teachers handle discipline problems by getting down to a child's eye level and saying in a stern voice that X behavior is not okay. I've seen kids get sent to the principal/director's office when they really get out of line. But yelling just teaches kids to yell themselves.

I would look for another center for your kids.

Nope. In fact, I was always impressed with the teachers' ability to get compliance and direction without yelling... ever. Didn't see yelling until the kids got into elementary school -- my son's kindergarten teacher was a yeller -- which I also thought was completely inappropriate.

In my opinion, no that certainly isn't the norm. At that age, children are just learning different skills sets including coping skills/respect etc. The teacher is supposed to model behavior. I can't believe that the teacher felt that it was o.k. to make a comment to you about the school aged kids. That is totally unprofessional and who knows what else goes on in the school. I think those teachers are going through the motions and are just there for the paycheck. If it was me, I would take my kids out and find a better environment. Insulting kids at any age and yelling at them tells me there is a real problem in that school. Good for you for being on the ball and observant!

I think, if a child is going to run out into the parking lot, yelling is OK. But, yelling to go back to your nap, or yelling at them inside the building for doing something "wrong" is just not right. I would talk to the daycare about it, and if nothing changed I would find another daycare. I'm sure you can find a daycare that does not yell at the children.

I haven't even read your question (no time), but daycare providers should not yell. New daycare?

The only time yelling is excusable is in a dangerous situation (running away in a parking lot would qualify), or I would also accept yelling to be heard over loud children (in this second case, the tone would not be angry, the voice would merely be loud). I would never tolerate a daycare worker yelling at my child in the form of scolding.

I worked in daycare for 5 years. The only time I ever yelled was to be heard across a playground, or a very noisy classroom, never in anger. I do not remember any of the other teachers yelling in anger, either.

It sounds like this really bothers you, and it should. Yelling is not normal. You should speak to the director about your concerns. It wouldn't hurt for the director to remind her teachers that they can raise their voice to get a child's attention, but they should watch their tone when speaking to the child.

Not. One. Time. Not appropriate, except when danger presents.

One of the teachers in DD's school is firm, but not yelling. I find that yelling begets yelling and kids turn their ears off and it's just blah blah blah if they get yelled at all the time. I'd keep an eye out for how often this happens and if it's in the room as well as in the parking lot. Is it a bad day or every day?

No, the good teachers don't yell, ever. They don't need to. We were lucky enough to have our two youngest at an amazing daycare for 5 years before it closed. The center had been open for almost 20 years under the same director (who is a good friend) and the teachers were just rays of sunshine, every day. The director would interview dozens of candidates for each open teaching position and only pick the best of the best. Even when the center was abruply closed (it was associated with a business that decided to do that with a month's notice) and the teachers had a month of wondering where they were going to work and were heartbroken about leaving their students, they put on their calm, happy faces every day, not matter what. A good teacher can discipline quietly and gently.

My youngest was 3 when this happened so I needed to find another place for him for 2 years and at a lot that I visited, there were grumpy, cranky teachers. The one I chose for him was OK, but even that teacher could get a little shrill from time to time. I didn't really care for her tone but didn't have many other options. Luckily he was only there two days a week and also went to a pre-school where the teachers were really calm, gentle, upbeat and positive.

If I were you, I would be tempted to keep looking for another center if you have other options. Ask friends, neighbors, and other people in your community for recommendations. The elementary school will know who is good as well - those front office secretaries are the eyes and ears of the community and know everthing. Your pediatirican's office is also a great place to ask if it's near you - I bet there are lots of working moms there between the doctors, nurses and office staff.

Umm... I'd be looking elsewhere. With yelling, kids are usually scared of the yelling at first, and then they are either fearful of that person or just begin to ignore it, which is equally ineffective.

Having worked in daycares before I set out on my own (I've had two preschools and have worked as a nanny)... some sweet directors are very ineffective at getting good staffing in.

I reserve yelling for Big Deal stuff, not everyday misbehavior. For example, had the boy who was walking away been walking into the street--perfectly legit reason for yelling constructively "Connor. Come back! The street is dangerous!" (nothing to do with his person,no insults) .

The comment she made to YOU regarding the child/ren was very unprofessional.

Most good teachers will tell you that in most cases, talking in a quieter voice better gets their attention. With my toddler and preschool groups, when the room got too loud, I'd turn off the overhead lights so we could still see, but it wasn't so bright. This gets their attention. What you described sounds, to me, like a lack of group/classroom management skills.

Moreover, what sort of example does it set for the kids if the teachers are yelling? WE are supposed to be the models. Great teachers will call all of the kids in from outdoors play with a group song or chant. They use these more nuanced, embedded ways to signal transitions precisely because it is different than speaking in a usual fashion. We sing our way to morning gathering, we sing our way to washing our hands, changing diapers, snacktime, in from outdoors, etc. Perhaps this would seem idealistic to some parents, but really, I've used this method and my son's preschool teachers did too, and it works beautifully while keeping the atmosphere calm and contained.

Please look elsewhere for daycare services. And when you go, specifically ask if you can come and observe the program before you have your child enrolled. Good programs will not have a problem with you coming to observe before you sign up.-- they might have certain times of day which work best because they are not heavy *transition* times for the kids (during those transition times you are usually seeing a little more chaos AND are a distraction for the kids). Good luck!

No, it's not good. The preschool teachers at my son's school never raise their voices, ever! And they have complete and total control of the class, it's amazing because there are some energetic and challenging kids in there. They handle every situation with a calm and caring tone that the kids truly respond to, I've witnessed it often! The situation with the kid running into the street warrants yelling because that's really dangerous and you want to get the person's attention fast. There's a daycare center that my friend recently removed her son from for the same reasons, the workers yelled at the kids and she wondered if they even liked kids. I would look into another option, maybe a good in-home daycare?

During all of the years I had all 3 of my girls in preschool (the year before kindergarten for 2 of them and the 2 years before kindergarten for 1 of them) I think I heard one of the teachers "yell" at a child only once. The child being yelled at was known to be typically out of control and had just hit a couple of children and was threatening to hit the teacher, and she was really just raising her voice in order to make sure he heard her and to tell the other children to move away from him for safety.

They would only raise their voices in order to be heard over shouting, but never raised their voices in anger. They were a very patient group of teachers all around.

From the description of the incident you witnessed, I see nothing wrong with it even though you personally didn't like the tone. I don't even see a problem with one teacher venting to another as long as the venting wasn't being made to parents. The teachers should have been more careful about the venting considering there were parents (you) around. That part was uncalled for and they should keep their venting private.

Nope, not OK in my book.

No daycare, preschool or early education teacher for my girls ever yelled that I was aware of. My youngest had a "yeller" in first grade. She has always been a bit of a teacher's pet so it wasn't ever directed at her but to me that was beside the point. Parents from the entire class complained and her contract was not re-newed (ie she lost her job).

My opinion is they are the professionals. Even if I lose my patience and occasionally raise my voice with my own kids it is never OK for a teacher to do the same. They can speak sternly, raise their voice to the point that the kid knows they mean business but never yell.

ADDED: After reading some responses I'm adding that in a case of immediate danger a caregiver can scream their head off. I think we'd all rather have our child screamed at then run over!

No, they do not all yell, nor should they. I would not leave my daughter in a classroom where the teachers are yelling. A professional should know that yelling or even a really angry tone creates insecurity and fear. Relying on that as a disciplinary measure would indicate to me that the teacher is not a trained professional. At minimum, you need to discuss this concern with the director, but I would be looking at other daycare options.

I love my pre-school and what they do there, with the exception of one of the senior teachers. She is gruff. She doesnt really YELL loudly per-say, but she does use gruff words. Occasionally like " We are not babies, we are Pre-schoolers lets SIT down and use our EARS" in very in-toned ways. With SIT and EARS very loudly emphasized. She is more cold in dealing with mis-behaving kids. While its not my style I dont think she has over stepped her bounds. I dont think its acceptable to be doing it all the time, but even pre-school teachers are human and sometimes a particularly bad day will get to them. I can forgive it if its like a momentary snap of kids misbehaving but if it makes your children scared or upset then no, I wouldn't keep them there and I would also talk to the director about the behavior. Yelling teachers cost daycare's and preschools money and can lead to lawsuits in schools so its better to weed the ones that don't have the patience out as quickly as possible.
My 5 year old just informed me last night her teacher yells a lot. I had to kinda do a kid inquisition as to how she was yelling, but with some proper questioning it seems she was trying to get the kids to be quiet for her to be heard. So I can see that. 26 kids can be very loud when they want to be.

You might want to suggest to the director that she have her teachers take the "Conscious Discipline" class. She could even rent the DVDs at the library. Our day care providers use that and don't yell. One of the head teachers will raise her voice to get the classroom's attention but never at one child. HTH

I could be heard outside in the parking lot. BUT I sing professionally so my voice is loud and I can always be heard over anyone I want to be heard over. If I used my loud voice every person in the classroom would be quiet and listen to me. I did not yell at a child for doing something wrong or when they were in trouble but if I needed everyone's attention I would be loud. If they didn't respond I would get louder and if that didn't work I would use my loud voice.

I wasn't "yelling" at a child because they were in trouble. I was being loud to get the masses attention. That is very different than getting on to a student in a yelling angry voice. That is different.

That should not be allowed.