Originally Posted by MrsSteinel'sHouse:
I would want to sit down with the provider to figure out what exactly is going on. I would approach it with the attitude that you want to be on the same page and want to figure out what actions need to be taken. Obviously, you don't want your child instigating "fights'. You need her help in figuring this out.
What your looking for is a consistent story as to what is taking place. You need to determine if your child is being properly supervised. I can tell you that when something happens at my home there is a form that I have to fill in. I am in Ohio and I don't know CA policies. So when the parents get here there is a form. I can tell them I had to apply first aid because M threw a car and it struck C on the forehead. My kids get bumps, scrapes etc from play. On occassion I have had a biter but once I know a child is a biter I supervise VERY closely! Those things do happen, but I know what happened! So your looking to see if the provider can fill in more than. They were fighting. I would want to know if both children were timed out and exactly what led up to them "fighting".
I would avoid accusations etc during this conversation. Then it is up to you as a parent to decide if your child is safe in this providers care. You might even pick up "early" one day to see what the children are doing. It never bothers me when my parents arrive, it shouldn't bother your provider either. Just be sure you take your child with you! (hard to resettle child and you don't want her to feel like your inspecting her) But you do have every right to know what is going on in her care. If your uncomfortable, you have every right to switch providers.
In home care can be the best because your child is in a small nurturing enviroment. However, it can be the worse because there is no one else there but the provider, so you have to be extremely comfortable with that person. Their home should be fairly transparent. And she should be forthcoming with details including how she is handling it. I would ask questions like what leads up to the "fighting"? does it frustrate you when they are fighting? How are you handling it?
Side note- if there is blood present it should be treated and covered. These days there are too many things that can be passed through blood not to!
Good luck in figuring all this out! Remember though, your provider SHOULD be your right hand in raising your child. It is very important that you feel like you can voice your concerns and that she is doing everything to help you raise your child!
I pretty much agree with this one. You need to take the time to sit down and talk to her a) what happened, b)have there been other instances with the offending child and other children and c) what is she doing to prevent it from happening in the future. And like this poster said, approach it in a kind, understanding way. In a daycare kids pretty much act like siblings. You know how siblings can act! So, give her the benefit of the doubt and let her explain.
HOWEVER, if the scratches involved bleeding, like the above poster said, then I would also find out why you were not informed. She should not only have told you what happened but also how/if she treated the wound. In our state all we are allowed to do is wash with so ap and water and band-aid it. Any time a child gets a scratch bad enough to bleed or a bump bad enough that it leaves a lump or bruise, I notify my parents. I do NOT always notify if they get a little bump or scratch that doesn't bleed.
Hope this helps a little!