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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Help - My "Climbers" are Killing Me!
Thebabyteacher 10:10 PM 07-10-2017
Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but they are making me cranky....

I work at a licensed daycare with a group of 8 little ones aged 12-18 months. I've been doing this awhile, so it's not my first trip around the block; but ZERO of my tried and trues are working. Over the past month, I've re-arranged the room. Introduced climbing equipment (draws no interest at all), switched out toys, added an art table (they don't even touch it!), and tried this activity where every daywe sit at the table and pretend to cook and eat. Songs, catch phrases, positive reinforcement? We've tried it all. But the very second we're not engaged in an activity? Boom - I've got 3 babies walking around on the table. My Co-teacher literally does nothing but carry one child (the cryer) allll day long, and diapers don't change themselves...

The Director, Asst Director and Curriculum specialist have been great about trying to get in my room at diaper times, but they can't always be there. Co teacher bursts into tears when the Cryer cries and that just makes things worse... (yes, they're looking for someone different to join me)

But until then.... any suggestions? I love my job and these kids, but lord o mercy, they're driving me bonkers.
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Ariana 10:51 PM 07-10-2017
Have you tried containing them when they do these things? Are there certain ones that engage in this activity more than others? I have a few kids this age and they are capable of knowing right from wrong so maybe punishment for this behavior is in order? They are clearly testing limits.
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Michael 11:43 PM 07-10-2017
More threads on Climbers: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=climbers
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Josiegirl 03:02 AM 07-11-2017
Yes, these kiddos are testing their limits, but only in the sense that their bodies are learning new things and that's a very typical thing they do at this age, not to test you. Kids that age are growing and learning by leaps and bounds. Can you move the tables out or aside(blocking them right off maybe?) during the times you don't need them and set up something else they can climb around on safely? I know you said you brought in other things for them to climb on already but I'd try something different. What about soft cushions in a pile, keeping everything low to the ground? Collapsible tunnels they can crawl through instead? I don't know, just thinking here.
I have to respectfully disagree with Ariana on the punishing though. This is a skill they're developing at the moment; it's not something they're doing to be 'naughty'. Just try to encourage it in safe ways and casually keep taking them away from what they're not supposed to be doing, while redirecting. The more reaction they get from you, the more they're going to do it.
For distraction, Lead them in a marching band, have them play a game of 'follow the leader' of sorts doing high-stepping, tip-toeing, stomping, whatever you can get them to do. Give them big empty boxes to play with, using babies, stuffed animals. Anything to incorporate their large muscles.
And GOOD LUCK! It's a wonderful age but takes every second of a person's concentration.
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nannyde 04:11 AM 07-11-2017
Oh for crying out loud :-)

First, your director needs to tell your assistant that she is not to care for the cryer unless you are out of the room or she must intervene for immediate safety. Other than that she is to leave all of the care of the cryer to you.

If she needs to cry when the cryer cries then that's fine. She can cry while she takes care of the other kids.

After three years of consulting and watching center classrooms on camera, I have seen her move many times. It's easier to one to one a baby or toddler than it is to be an equal worker in a room. We had to remove rocking chairs out of the infant rooms because we would have staff that would plop down in the chair and hold one baby while the other staff took care of the other seven.

Tell her she is not to pick up the cryer or sit holding the cryer. No hands on unless it is an emergency.

She's your problem. You can divide and conquer if you split the group up and she takes her half.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 05:30 AM 07-11-2017
Originally Posted by nannyde:
Oh for crying out loud :-)

First, your director needs to tell your assistant that she is not to care for the cryer unless you are out of the room or she must intervene for immediate safety. Other than that she is to leave all of the care of the cryer to you.

If she needs to cry when the cryer cries then that's fine. She can cry while she takes care of the other kids.

After three years of consulting and watching center classrooms on camera, I have seen her move many times. It's easier to one to one a baby or toddler than it is to be an equal worker in a room. We had to remove rocking chairs out of the infant rooms because we would have staff that would plop down in the chair and hold one baby while the other staff took care of the other seven.

Tell her she is not to pick up the cryer or sit holding the cryer. No hands on unless it is an emergency.

She's your problem. You can divide and conquer if you split the group up and she takes her half.
This is great advice.

I'm also wondering how mentally stable this adult is if she's crying when a child cries. Really?
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Cat Herder 05:37 AM 07-11-2017
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
This is great advice.

I'm also wondering how mentally stable this adult is if she's crying when a child cries. Really?
No wonder the kids stay in a high anxiety state. Where do they look for security?

Can they swap her to an older class (or lawn maintenance ) until a replacement is found?
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hwichlaz 07:10 AM 07-11-2017
I have one of those...going on a solid year now. She started climbing out of her crib at 9 months. She's like a mountain goat. She's now nearing 2 1/2 and still constantly climbs everything no matter what....to the point that I have to take her to the bathroom with me now. I can't even buckle her into a high chair with a couple of crackers and duck out for 2 min to pee anymore. She unbuckles herself and unsafely climbs out over the tray.
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Annalee 09:38 AM 07-11-2017
Originally Posted by nannyde:
Oh for crying out loud :-)

First, your director needs to tell your assistant that she is not to care for the cryer unless you are out of the room or she must intervene for immediate safety. Other than that she is to leave all of the care of the cryer to you.

If she needs to cry when the cryer cries then that's fine. She can cry while she takes care of the other kids.

After three years of consulting and watching center classrooms on camera, I have seen her move many times. It's easier to one to one a baby or toddler than it is to be an equal worker in a room. We had to remove rocking chairs out of the infant rooms because we would have staff that would plop down in the chair and hold one baby while the other staff took care of the other seven.

Tell her she is not to pick up the cryer or sit holding the cryer. No hands on unless it is an emergency.

She's your problem. You can divide and conquer if you split the group up and she takes her half.

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racemom 11:41 AM 07-11-2017
Can you split the room in two. Each of you have four that you are solely responsible to tend. If she can't help you and only works with the cryer it's time to force her. Place some kind of barrier in between your areas, and she HAS to do more than carry one around. She is going to continue to play this game until forced to stop.

Otherwise tell your director you are done, and she can either replace her or it's time for you to move on. I would not allow this to continue.
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flying_babyb 11:46 PM 07-11-2017
I would split the group, her 4 and your 4. You take the crier. She needs to be forced to work, ive had coworkers like this. as far as the climbing, I move the table in our room and do pillows, tunnels, soft blocks and a two step stool (with padding on ALL sides). right now my climbers like to sit on the ladder and plop forward onto the mat, giggle and do it again!
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Tags:climbers, co-workers, confinement equipment, environments, gates, large motor play, playground - equipment
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