S/O signing - new daycare rules - wwyd?

jlsimon56

LO goes to daycare FT and this is where she learned to sign.  We used some signs at home b/c it was convenient.  Now that LO is talking, her use of signs has gone way down. 

Daycare just sent home a ton of info on their new classroom structures.  LO is in the crawlers room (after infants but before toddlers).  They are going to divide the room into two groups and the kids who can walk/run are going to be in the "advanced" half, who will do more interactive play.  Those who cannot walk/run will do more free play in the fenced (carpeted) areas.  They will be together at naptime only - eating/playing will be staggered. 

They are also issuing that signing be mandatory.  Each week, they tell us what the sign is and we are required to use it at home.  They gave us which sign for each week - mama, dada, water, etc.  Basic ones. 

I am just not sure what to do with this information.  I LOVE this daycare but their structure for development is off (IMO, but who am I?).  I would prefer that they focus on speech and vocabulary vs. signing, for kids who talk more.  I am concerned that my barely-walking, not-at-all-running LO will be lumped with the newcomers (aka the 1yo LOs).  I don't like that they are using physical development as a means to group the kids. 

What do you think?  Am I overreacting?  Should I ask the daycare about all this?  Have you heard of this? 

dairygirl19

I used to work in a daycare and for safety reasons they were grouped first by age and then by physical ability. It wasn't overly structured, but it was the general guidleline. They were in separate rooms though. They also had a ton of kids, so they had divide up the rooms somehow. I think it's weird to leave them all in one room and fence them off. They're kids, not puppies and what's going to happen when one kids scaled the fence? I give it about a week in that style.

As for the signs I say take it or leave it....I agree with you and would rather have my LO learning other things. However, I also see why daycare wants to use it. Cuts down on whining etc. That said, it's not like they can force you to use it at home either.

 I'm about as lax as they come and I'd ask a ton of questions about this and then consider shopping for a new daycare if you don't get the answers you need.

boogerbearoriginal

LO isn't in daycare so I have no idea if it's normal/standard but I would ask the daycare why they are dividing the kids. Is it based on what's best for the kids development?  Or is this more convenient for the daycare? What do they mean by interactive play? I read this as "we're going to do fun stuff with the kids who can walk/run while we keep the others caged up because they are dulls-ville." Perhaps it's not their intent but I want my kid enjoying interactive play regardless of which physical milestones he's achieved, kwim? And I believe that interacting with kids with various skill levels is beneficial to children.

I find the signing thing weird. And I don't know how enforceable that is? I mean, what if you don't practice signing at home? Will they kick LO out of daycare? It just seems odd/off-putting that they are dictating what will be taught in your home. 

I would definitely express your concerns and ask any questions to the daycare. And to address the "who am I?" - you are the mother of a child in their care, AND a paying customer. So don't be afraid to voice your opinion and ask questions about the quality of care she's receiving.  

mel1358

We are in a daycare where she had to be walking to move up out of the infant room even though she was at same level everywhere else as the others but not walking.  Personally, I thought the more she was around the walkers, the faster she would pick it up.  I was a little irritated with it, but saw their reasoning at the same time.  I just had to be patient until she started walking.

I would really have an issue with the signing.  I would rather them focus on teaching them to use their words.  We don't sign at home because of this.  I am Chatty Cathy with her at all times trying to increase her vocabulary.

I agree that they probably want to use signing to cut down on whining, but I think that's taking the easy way out.  I don't like listening to DD whine and point because she won't say something but she isn't going to learn to say things any faster if I don't use the words either. 

katie4253

Mandatory...lmao. No. I am not doing anything my 18 month old's school says is "mandatory" unless it is a safety issue.  

What are they going to do if you don't use it at home...and really, 1 week for a sign that may not be used all that frequently is kind of lame imo.  Every 2 weeks would make more sense.  

Sounds like they think they are super special.  

That said, I wouldn't leave a center over it. 

katie4253

I see you are in MA.  Do you take your LO to a Goddard school?

We use Next Generation and another friend uses Kindercare and they are not like this.  I like our place's curriculum.  They use signs.  But, they are not "mandatory"

jlsimon56

I am definitely not thinking of leaving.  I love this place.

I live in RI now, TB won't let me change.  It's a local daycare.

I want to ask more about the verbal words vs. signing.  They think LO knows her colors (I think it's a fluke) but they are certainly challenging her. 

I am just annoyed I think that they move them along based on age and/or physical ability vs. development....but honestly, that is probably how it should be. 

Thanks for responding!

SarahE22nd

katie4253:

Mandatory...lmao. No. I am not doing anything my 18 month old's school says is "mandatory" unless it is a safety issue.  

What are they going to do if you don't use it at home...and really, 1 week for a sign that may not be used all that frequently is kind of lame imo.  Every 2 weeks would make more sense.  

Sounds like they think they are super special.  

That said, I wouldn't leave a center over it. 

This....I think some signing is good - to help them communicate what they want before they are developmentally able to speak, but not manditory...that would irritate me

Epiphany27

I work in a daycare and wish we could section off kids based on physical abilities. The older kids start to run over the littler ones when they begin walking. It would be SO much easier to have them separate. Its really beneficial to have them around kids of their own abilities.

The signing thing is crap.