Daycare/preschool moms...

happ17

there was an article in the NYT this morning about Massachusetts pre-schools mandating teeth brushing:

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/education/29brush.html?th&emc=th

Some people are against it. At PAC's daycare, they brush teeth and wash hands all the time. I think it's an awesome idea and was one of the deciding factors in choosing them. 

Do your daycares or preschools do this? What do you think?

buffalo_buckeye

DS daycare (12 mo-18 mo) brushed his teeth. I really appreciated it. I need to read the article...how long would they expect teachers to do this? I don't think past the age of 6 that the teachers should be required to do it, but I think it would be great before then. ETA: I think it's great! It's no different than teaching them to go to the bathroom, wash hands...it's just proper hygiene. And I see now it's just up to preschool, so I think that is age appropriate for the teachers and students.

chelle828

DS's preschool is big on hand hygiene, but I've never heard of the tooth brushing - I'd love it if they did that! 

amiamish

?I don?t want someone?s hand in my child?s mouth,? said Sarah Brodsky, a teacher at First Path Day Care in Watertown and mother of 4-month-old Noah. ?It?s a little too much? government intervention, Ms. Brodsky added.

That is so stupid! They are 4yr olds, a LOT of crap goes in their mouth. I'd be all for teeth being brushed at school, it's a good habit for them to learn.

hopefulmom

My kids never went to daycare but preschools never did teethbrushing.  They were only there for 2 1/2 hours 3 times a week.  I think they figured the parents would brush their kids teeth before coming and it's a little over the top to brush after a snack IMO.  We brush morning and night...sometimes before nap if he had a "sticky" type of lunch.

How do they keep all the toothbrushes and toothpaste separated? 

butterbeansmama

They wash hands before snack, before lunch and after potty breaks. They do not do the teeth brushing (although it would be nice).

amiamish

hopefulmom:

How do they keep all the toothbrushes and toothpaste separated? 

That would be one of my concerns too...

#6

My kids preschool does.  Its Head Start though.  I think the main reason they do it is because some of the kids dont get their teeth brushed at home.  They do it after breakfast and after lunch.  For the 3yr old class the teachers do it until they learn to do it themselves and they watch and just help a little.  I think for the 4yr old class they just watch. 

I think its a great idea.  The teachers do a lot of talking about why you should brush your teeth, how often, etc whle they do it so its education about hygine that some of the kds do not get at home.  There are some very very low income or no income families at our preschool. 

 

happ17

well, at PAC's daycare, each kid has his own little container that holds his toothbrush and toothpaste--they don't share anything.

KrisBriMcBunny

if they are there all day I think its a great idea....however M is only in school for 2.5 hours...I dont think its needed.  However her school is HUGE on handwashing which I really like.

JOEBunny

I think government mandated tooth brushing is an idiotic waste of tax payers time.  I think this is way beyond the scope of where government should go.  What is next?  What my child can eat for snack?  How they wipe their bottom?  Some things should be left to common sense and not government and this is one.

sweetie1528

chelle828:

DS's preschool is big on hand hygiene, but I've never heard of the tooth brushing - I'd love it if they did that! 

bubu

My DD's preschool doesn't do this but it would be great if they did.  I remember in elementary school when the dentist lady would come after lunch and we would brush our teeth.  It's a great idea.

ready2go

I'm in MA and my dd's daycare does this now.  They have a clear box like thing hanging on the wall, with spots for each child's labelled toothbrush.  I could be wrong but I don't think they use toothpaste - just water to more or less "rinse" the teeth.  I thought it was a little odd at first but it reinforces the importance to dd.  No harm done.