whoa!!! - what are they doing at my preschool? rant!!!

[spu]

Tonight at dinner, my 4.5 yo DD started "smoking" her french fry. I knew right away what she was doing. She picked it up from one of her classmates who said her mom smoked. After I told her that's too bad because she's probably going to get very sick and die from lung cancer, I then thought - why aren't the teachers intercepting this? They've also come home playing "die - kill kill!" chasing games, sucking thumbs and biting clothes and calling people 'maniacs' - all of which they've told me who they get it from... We have a parent/teacher conference on Friday, so I'm planning on bringing this up. In the past, the teachers said they can't control the conversations that happen on the playground, so I'm probably going to get that line again... WWYD? Also, for snack time, they told us in person and in writing in the handbook in Sept. to try and keep the snacks healthy (parents provide snacks for the class when it's their child's turn to be the helper of the day). Since when are Oreos healthy? and cinnamon sticks? ugh! Also, it was 24 degrees out and cloudy on the ride into school, and they still went out on the playground. Isn't 32 degrees generally the safety mark for preschools? I'm sure I'm overreacting, but it's my children, and I'm paying them big bucks (so they can smoke frency fries?!) ugh again! :}

thanks for listening! :)
susan

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nursed for 3 years!
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charlotte + else

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[lizamann]

What a bummer! Kids are always going to say and do this stuff at school, but I would ask to make sure the teachers discourage this kind of behavior, which they absolutely should even on the playground. My dd says "poopy poopy fart fart" as a result of preschool, but then in the next sentence says, "that's potty talk and we should only say it in the bathroom," so at least I know the teachers are addressing it.

The junky snacks is a pet peeve of mine as well. I've heard that she's had chocolate covered raisins and goldfish as a snack. What's up with the goldfish everywhere?

Our official outside cutoff is 20 degrees, and I know one school has 15, but I've noticed that they tend to stay in if it's 25 or so.

Is there something you do like about your preschool? Because you sound pretty down about it right now.

[jeminaal]

Guilty as charged.

I've brought in Goldfish and Honey Maid Graham Cinnamon Sticks and Teddy Grahams before, usually paired with yogurt, fruit or cheese.

I didn't realize that these items would be considered food that some parents would see as a problem. I don't think it's a big deal, but that's me. I'm more likely to be concerned if parents were sending in potato chips, Doritos, or french fries.


Jeanette
(formerly known as jeanmick, member since Feb 2003)

DD Born Christmas Eve
DS Born Valentine's Day

[SnuggleBuggles]

I know my ds comes up ith less than ideal behavior somedays- things he clearly picked up from his peers. I too would hope that some othe biggies, like pretend smoking and "kill, die" games, would be nipped in the bud though. The school as a whole should be promoting respect for their bodies and others.

They had to revise the rules for snacks at my friend's preschool. Now the parents are required to bring fruit or veggies when it is their turn to do snack. I am fine with a lot of things for school snack but I would prefer if there were no trans fats or high fructose corn syrup. Our school provides the snack so I haven't had to worry about other parents' snack choices. I would suggest that they change over to produce or cheese and crackers- something like that- since that may make it more clear. Just an idea. Not sure if it is all that practical though it seems to be working at our friend's school.

I think 20 degrees or something must be the cut off here too.

I hope you get a satisfactory reply from them on Friday!

Beth

[khalloc]

My DD is 14 months old and they go outside as long as it is above 20 degrees.

[Elilly]

Wow! 20 degrees!? Our school's policy is no outside time when it's under 40.

[Melanie]

I would also. I think it's a good rule of thumb to just assume that anything with refined sugar, HFCS or Trans fats is unacceptable to someone.

Susan, I don't know what to tell you. I saw Ds do it once, too. Though in our world he surely would have seen it somewhere from someone (see other Target Smoking thread!). I think, however, if the kids are YELLING "DIE" and "KILL" surely a playground supervisor would hear it to re-direct. That is their job, no? Even at Ds' school it happens, but when the teachers see it they redirect or speak to them about it.

Sucks, though. Makes me want to keep him home in our little coccoon forever.

[jamierush]

Ack! I feel your pain, this has randomly come up over the last 2 years for my DD in her daycare.. Honestly I don't wait for parent Teacher conferences. If she come home with behaviors that I think are reasonable for the teachers to be addressing, ie ( "pretending to shoot a gun" , potty words, we have not experienced the pretending to smoke) I say something the next day. I just gently say, hey this is a big concern and I know that you can't control everything but lets make and active effort to minimize these behaviors.
I am very lucky that they have always been receptive and worked consitantly to eliminating it as much as possible. But I always approach the teachers first in a very laid back yet concerned manner and then I follow up with a brief chat with the director. Good Luck.