Withdraw Child from Daycare Without Notice Period

First, read your contract. There likely isn't any exclusion or clause which suggests that there is a right to quit care due to the lack of a lead teacher. As long as they are within ratios (depends on your state as to what that looks like legally), you would need to expect that you have no grounds to pull your child without notice or payment for the agreed-upon period of notice.

You could, of course, say "it looks like we'll need to find another arrangement" and give the necessary notice before removing your toddler from care. You'll need to consult the contract for that. I asked parents for 30 days notice with my preschool program. It's hard to fill that child's slot in less than 30 days.

In reading your post, I noticed one essential thing missing: communication between yourself and the director. I worked in a 20-30 month toddler room for a few years and want to share a short story with you: when I started that job, it was as an assistant. The lead teacher was also fairly new. The former, very beloved, lead had *just* left that job and as it turned out, the new lead ended up having a lot of personal issues. This resulted in her being gone a lot and my holding down the fort. Although I was an assistant, I'd had a couple years previous experience with a very good lead at a different daycare and had no problem running the toddler group.

Guess what? After three weeks at this new job, the new lead was fired and I was given her job. I stayed on there for a few years, pursued more training and gained a lot of good experience. Some of us work in childcare as a career without having a degree. We self-educate, attend trainings through the county. This is not a job which pays for itself (ie-- your wage in childcare is likely not going to pay for your bachelors degree student loans, maybe your associates degree)---- childcaregivers are woefully underpaid for their work and the profession/subsidies from the government are incredibly underfunded. One of the reason that larger centers can have higher turnover is because of the burnout--- minimum wage for that job is a hard-earned dollar. (A smaller, private program will cost more, but they also usually pay their teachers much better. The preschool I subbed at over the past few years paid me $25 an hour. When I was at a center, it was just a couple dollars above minimum wage, even with experience.)

I would encourage you to keep all this in mind. Your child *does* likely receive one-on-one time from caregivers during care tasks (handwashing, diaper changes-- I always used that time to sing, chat and play with the kiddos). Diaper changes every 3 hours sounds about right. (remember that it takes nearly an HOUR to get one entire group of 8 changed) Of course, we could smell a stinky diaper pretty quickly and in my room, those were changed immediately!

So, talk with the director about your concerns. Ask what the plan is. I have to be honest, as long as the group has a daily routine, I don't know that curriculum for toddlers is going to be a make-or-break deal over the course of a month or so. Granted, I did have a curriculum, but it was very simple compared to my preschooler and, now, my homeschooling curriculum. Standard practices for toddlers are lots of adult narration as the activities happen, a variety of materials available, fun experiences (water/sand play, play outdoors daily, sensory play, stories and songs).... there's a lot more social support being provided during this age than academics. Keep in mind, the security (consistent, caring providers) and routine elements are going to be far more important to your child's well being than introduction to letters or numbers.

I started to say one thing but then decided against it.
I just don't think toddlers need a curriculum or a classroom.
The brochure that sold you on this place would have had me running in the opposite direction.
You can pull her out any time.
The notice period is so they can fill the vacancy - and you pay for that time whether she's there or not.
If you complain about your toddlers class, it might make things uncomfortable for your son if he's staying.
You might just pull her out saying you decided you wanted to keep her home a little longer than you thought you would.

I suggest you've made several assumptions without trying to know if they are true. Why haven't you talked with staff to learn whether or not there is a lead teacher. Why do you assume that assistant staff are not capable of following a plan even when the lead teacher is not in the room?. Unless you ask you do not know where the lead teacher is throughout the day.

Have you considered that your daughter wet her diaper not too long before you arrived. Did you ask the assistant what happened? Why do you think they always fail to change diapers? How often do you change her diapers? More often than an average of every 3 hours? It's unreasonable to expect them to change diapers immediately after they're wet when there are several kids in the room.

How do you know that they are not following a curriculum? Have you asked what their curriculum consists of? Would you expect academics at age 2? Do you believe that directed play is not a curriculum?

I suggest you are likely to have similar feelings where ever your daughter is cared for unless you ask specific questions and discuss your expectations in advance. I suggest that you assumed that the center did things a certain way and you're now seeing something different.

Communication, person to person, is necessary for getting what you want. Ongoing communication with classroom staff before talking with the director is the correct way to go when you have complaints. It's called chain of command. If I had gone to my bosses boss, my complaints would offend my boss. Can you see how ineffective it's would be in getting change.

Of course you can take her out of this center. You will have to pay what the contract says. You made a legally binding agreement to accept the contract. Look at your contract.

I wonder if you have had little work experience. This is your first experience with a day care center. I suggest you consider this experience as an opportunity to learn how to get what you want for your child.

Why haven't you addressed your concerns with teacher directly? Have you asked her (other than observing that she isn't in the room at pick up) if she is now full-time in the 3 year-old room instead of the 2 year-old room? Have you asked her if she is now assigned to the 3 year-old room permanently, who will be her replacement in your child's room? Have you addressed your concerns with the director of the facility?

The best thing to do when you have an issue with your childcare is to go to the source and try to work it out.

I wouldn't be concerned about the academic curriculum for a 2 year-old group, but I would have concerns about the children's diapers not being changed in a timely manner.

Go to the people there and have a discussion with them. Please go in with a calm, non-accusatory attitude, and just simply ask your questions, listen to their answers, and express your concerns and expectations.

If you child is otherwise safe, secure, and happy in this environment, it doesn't seem wise to pull her without first talking this over with those in charge of her care, particularly if your son is happy and thriving in his camp.

Before pulling her I think you need to talk to the director and get the facts. Are you sure there was not a lead teacher in the classroom? Who was substituting for the teacher? Ask for a schedule of what activities are done in the classroom. I can't imagine they are just changing diapers and feeding the kids etc. Also, does your child seem happy?

I think the best thing you can do is make a list of your concerns and make an appointment to discuss them with the director. You may find that there are things going on that the director is not aware of. You might also find out that you only know part of the story. Either way, as long as you approach it with the right attitude, you will learn the answers to your questions and have a much better idea of whether or not this is the right place for you and your children.

It's quite possible the 2 year old class has a different lead teacher. Definitely ask about that. I'm not sure how much curriculum they would have for a 2 year old class. Our daycare had a schedule with themes and some lessons each week, but I wouldn't call it a curriculum. Maybe that's something to clarify with the director.

Definitely ask about the diapers (and do make sure your daughter has a change of clothes). Is it their policy to change diapers every 3 hours? Could they mean they make sure they change them at least every 3 hours? I have trouble imagining that they would knowingly not change a diaper if it's only been 2 hours. Do keep in mind that your daughter could have soaked her diaper just before you got there (without the teacher's noticing). Also, she might still be a little shy and not have been comfortable asking for a change. Just saying, it might be more innocent than you first thought.

These are your precious babies, so I completely understand your concern. Call the director and make an appointment to meet with him/her. Be kind and willing to listen and ask your questions. I really think you will be glad you did.

Texas,

First you need to sit down with the Center Director and discuss your concerns.
Second you need to read the contract you signed with the center to see if there is any notice you must give and if you don't what you will be charged.

The Center is NOT obligated to tell you of staff changes. It's nice, yes, but they don't have to tell you the minutia details. Centers have numbers and ratio's that each room must keep. Kids and teachers are moved throughout the day.

Should a 2 year old room have 'structure'? Some, but it should be free play and learning social skills.

Diaper and clothes changes: did you bring a change of clothes for your daughter? Did you talk with the Center Director that DAY when you picked her up in urine soaked clothes? If you didn't? That's your fault.

Good luck!

Give notice or expect to pay the fee described in the contract.

And if you had so many questions, I cant figure out why you didn't talk to the director right away.

Please take this experience as a lesson learned - when you have questions about your child's care in a daycare, take them to the director. The teachers are great at answering hands on stuff like "how was my child's day". But only the director can explain how she shuffles teachers and uses substitutes when teachers are on vacation or sick. And certainly curriculum questions should go to the director. If you need your child to be in daycare long term, you need to get good at discussing your expectations with childcare providers in a productive, non-confrontational way.

You expect a "proper curriculum" for a child who hasn't even learned how to use a toilet? Is this a joke?
Take your kids out of this corporate center and find a nice home based daycare, or do a nanny share with another family if you want honest, warm loving attention and at least a little one on one time.

Since you've already made your decision, why did you ask for advice?

I like Nervy's response because it was closest to our experience too.

I see from your SWH you've already made your decision. I think you have to trust your gut.

We had always been happy with our daycare - and so we were surprised when our youngest went and there just wasn't the level of care there that we had experienced in the past. I do know fantastic teachers/assistants can really make a difference, and so can not so stellar people (same as anywhere). We spoke to the teachers and the director and just couldn't get past what we were noticing, and so we pulled our daughter. It was the right decision for us. I find once you find more things to be concerned about than not, it's time to go.

I will add - summer time we found there were sharing of resources so teachers/assistants moved from room to room. Same with end of day and drop off times. They'd float. It settled down in the fall when all the kids and staff were back. So I wonder if that's maybe part of what you noticed.

We never had a structured curriculum in the toddler room. But there was a plan - posted outside on a clip board, every week. Water play. Painting. Story time. Etc. So it was activity based learning/fun. But not structured. That came more once they moved up to preschool.

The diapering was what led me to have concerns too with our youngest. I was used to kids maybe having a pee - but BM's left .. not so nice. Similarly wet clothing left on too long - we just ended up with rashes and when I did supply creams, they weren't used and it would never have been this way in the past. We switched and were much happier at another place. It was a better fit. So even a wonderful place where we were treated like family can change over time.

In our case, we knew the director well and had spoken many times about what we'd noticed. And also with the teachers. Bottom line, our kid didn't seem happy. Whereas my others had loved going.

I think you'll find the right fit - if you didn't feel comfortable sharing your concerns, not the right fit.

All I have to say is that our parenting approaches are too different for me to give you advise. All three of my kids where potty trained, including night, with no accidents around or before their second bday- my son self-trained at 18 months. Yet, I don't believe in any curriculum until around 9. I say 9 because my oldest isn't yet 9. We probably will never use a curriculum until 13-14- when they show an interest in a life-path.

If a kid is still shitting their pants, I'd say structured learning isn't required.

Is your child a toddler or a two year old because in child care it makes a huge difference.

In the toddler room they are moving up from the infant room, some of them aren't even walking yet. They have a set nap time and will try to do some table time with the kids maybe mid morning and mid afternoon after nap time, so they can learn to sit for a few minutes each day in a structured activity. They mostly play and the teachers spend a majority of the day picking up toys and changing diapers. They change them when they are wet or poopy because they have much less structure in the toddler classroom and the teachers aren't "teaching at the table". They're up and moving with the kids.

In the preschool classroom for a 2 year old they should have circle time in the morning then do some activities that correlate to the topics of the day/week/month. Such as reading a book that had Clifford The Big Red Dog then using red paint to do some art work and maybe having red pieces for games to do pre-math skills. All are bringing in the color of the month or week, the number of the day, and integrating that with other parts of the child's brain by using story time to reinforce the colors and numbers. It all works together.

Then the 2 year old classroom will move out of circle time into either playtime or morning table time. Either one is useful because the kids sometimes need to burn off some energy. They should also have morning snack time between activities. Diapers that were poopy got changed in a hurry but for the most part they don't have time to leave the other kids alone while they're changing them. So they try to do them all in a window so one teacher is changing them and still watching kids but the other teacher is completely focused on the whole classroom. It's just so much easier to do that when the kids are sitting down at the table or doing something they are focused on.

They should then eat lunch, clean their hands and diapers, then down for a nap. In my child care center the kids slept as long as they needed to. I didn't like to wake them up. If they're sleeping soundly then their bodies need that rest.

After naps, diapers changed, afternoon snacks, then it was mostly playtime. I might see my 2 year old classroom teacher have them sit down to do a craft or something but most often they were wired up and ready to go outside. Once they got a bit of running around done then they were ready to come in, get changed, and do some activities at the table. They will settle down to do something later in the afternoon when parents are starting to arrive. This is when I usually washed faces, brushed/combed hair, etc....I also had a TV in my main room. As the kids dwindled down they'd move into the main room so their teachers could go home. Babies and toddlers stayed in one of those rooms though because they changed the teacher/child ratio too much.

They should start potty training with your child in the next few months if they haven't already. When she's ready they'll start. Some kids aren't ready until they're 3 and some are ready at 2. It's something the teachers and you can discuss.

They should change her clothes when she has an accident. If you bring clothes they should change her. If you do't bring a change of clothes they they won't. They don't have to provide clothing. I would have picked my child up and went straight to the director and showed her that her clothes had pee on them. That isn't acceptable. BUT it could have been an oversight.

Now, a lead teacher. They are responsible for counting toys, making sure the items required for their classroom are present. They might make up the curriculum that they use in that classroom. In my case each of my teachers followed my lead. I would make up the whole year's outline and use it to plan my classroom. Like in February. The colors of the month were red, pink, and white. The numbers of the month were 2, 4, and six. The themes of the month were: Week 1, post office. Week 2, Valentine's Day, Week 3, the human heart, Week 4, dental care.

I feed the kids red, pink, and white snacks/foods, we painted outside with red paint to make hearts on a big poster, I had ALL the parents get ALL their relatives to write notes to their kiddos and mail them to them at the center so the kids could experience receiving mail, we went and toured our local post office on a field trip, we gave out new toothbrushes in dental week, etc...we fully integrated the topics, themes, and numbers the whole month.

If my teachers had gone completely off on their own the kids in their classroom wouldn't have had the activities and preparation for our events.

My point is that my "lead" teachers didn't do much other than manage the technical parts of their classroom. They didn't have any special responsibilities towards the children in their classroom. They were equal to the other teachers they worked with.

If I had a state inspection and something in that classroom got an infraction they were held responsible. It was their job to make sure the plugs were covered and that the trash cans were put up and that the toys were save and sanitized each day.

Can you speak to the director before you change centers again? Your kids seem happy and that isn't always easy to find.

A title isn't everything and sometimes it's just a little bit more money in their pocket because they have to do background stuff.

What does your contract say? If you are required to give notice you will owe for that notice period whether you use them or not. You do not have to send the child for that period but you have to pay.

So far as the lead teacher goes is staffing spelled out in the contract? Does it say they must have this number of teachers and a lead teacher? Does it have a time frame written in that states how long they have to replace staff that quits or is fired. Is there a different tuition rate during this period? If that isn't spelled out you will not have a leg to stand on.

Having a change in teacher is not a valid reason to breach your contract and not give paid notice if that is required in your contract. I can reassure you that the teachers will not treat the child any different with paid notice, they have no clue about that stuff usually. Your child is not in immediate harm, do the polite thing and honor the contract. Or you risk being taken to court for the 2 wks pay and if you signed a contract that says you need to give that paid notice then you WILL lose in court. Plus then you have lost time because you'll have to go to court.
If you want to guarantee that the teacher will not change then go with a home daycare, you'll have the same teacher every day, all day, for years and years. We bond very much with the children for this reason. In ANY corporate center you will have changing of staff, it just is a fact. The teachers don't like it any more than you do trust me.

when i was a tots/2's teacher i had to change diapers or ask if they needed to use the potty every 2 hours and chart what happened (wet/bm/dry) if i noticed a bm when it was not time that child got changed period. in my state were required to have a teacher that has a degree in every classroom. period.
if i were in your shoes i would of done what you did, and got my child outta there.

Why not check out a preschool in a church. Usually, those types of preschools give more love and attention to the children and are there for the right reasons. Since you live in Keller, why not take a tour of Martin Methodist Preschool in the Martin UM Church in Bedford, T.. Their rates are reasonable, the class sizes low, and the children are happy. They offer extended care for working parents as well.