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August 2012 Moms
cedenton
member
DC Moms
cedenton
member
So, when you were finding a DC for your LO did you think long-term like curriculum in the older rooms and menus?
DS is on the waiting list for a better daycare. In the meantime when he moves to the next room where he is I've got to deal with a crappy food menu (chicken nuggets, pizza, tacos, nachos, etc.) and a teacher who's always on her iPhone.
I have plans to talk to the Director about the menu first. It's not like I expect them to really change anything, but I know at least one other parent isn't happy with the food and if no one says anything then nothing will change.
I'll deal with the iPhone thing if it becomes a problem when he actually moves to that room.
Anyway, are you all still happy with your DC now that things are changing and they might be getting new teachers and such?
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Re: DC Moms
Yes, I took the old children's rooms into great consideration, as I plan on having them there long term. They require so little when they are infants (love, food, sleep) the toddler+ rooms were a lot more important to me.
If they are unwilling to change the menu you should request/demand to provide your own meals. I'm sure your pediatrician would be happy to write up a dietary exemption.
Proud Mama to cleft cutie
When picking my 1st choice daycare I looked at his long-term care, I didn't want to have to move him from place to place. I actually looked more at the older rooms than I did the infant room when making my choice. I was very lucky that we did get a spot from the beginning in my 1st choice and I still love it, even now that he is moving to the toddler room and is eating their menu.
He is eating breakfast/am snack, Lunch and afternoon snack from the menu at daycare now (he is transitioning to their toddler room).They do serve pizza and chicken nuggets on occasion, but the nuggets are at least baked and they always serve a fruit and a veggie with every meal. I figure even once he starts regular school they are going to serve Pizza, tacos and chicken nuggets sometimes, as long as it is balanced and they offer a variety of things I am ok with this.
Here is his menu for lunches this week (I get a monthly menu that list all snacks and lunches for the month):
Monday: Taco Salad w/ corn peaches and milk
Tuesday: Meatballs w/gravy, Potato boats, mandarin oranges and milk
Wednesday: Lasagna, Peas, applesauce and milk
Thursday: Cheese Quesadillas, black beans, cantaloupe and milk
Friday: Chicken Sandwich, green beans, orange slices and milk.
They also have a great curriculum that they use starting from the infant room and moving all the way up through Jr. Kindergarten and they are Christian based so he also gets bible stories/songs which I also like. The teachers aren't allowed to use thier cell phones in the child care rooms. They have to stay put up with their personal belongings unless they are on lunch/break.
I hope you are able to find a place that you are just as happy with.
I didn't specifically look at the toddler menu when researching LO's daycare but I know I've looked at it before and don't remember thinking it was junk food.
Just looked it up - they do snacks (veggies, fruit, crackers, yogurt,etc.)
Well, I knew nothing about kids and wasn't around them before having one so I didn't come prepared, so to speak. I'm so mad at myself about not getting him on the waitlist at this other one when I was pregnant.
I know they don't like for people to bring food into the older rooms unless there's an allergy. The main infant teacher told me another baby's mom (he'll move up right after Nolan) said he couldn't eat anything on the menu because they're Paleo. Geez, and I though I was picky.
The teacher also told me that other teachers say stuff about the food I bring like "Look at what Nolan has to eat." They feel sorry for him because he "has" to eat avocado, fresh fruit, cheese, beans, sweet potatoes, etc. All of which he loves. She agrees with me FWIW.
I also know it's hard when they're older and they eat lunch as a group. I understand it's easier if they're all eating the same thing and no one gets upset, but...it's all so high sodium and processed!!
At the boys' school the kids with dietary restrictions sit at a different table (still together, with other kids) but they aren't exposed to the other food being served - so it's really not a big deal.
Don't beat yourself up about it though!! He'll get a spot at the new place soon enough, until then, a few chicken nuggets won't kill him
Proud Mama to cleft cutie
They get a fruit and veggie with their meals. I think it's probably canned fruit and veggies, but I can check. Fruit is probably packed in syrup and I'm sure veggies are high in sodium.
Morning snack is really breakfast and includes french toast sticks and such.
Afternoon snack might be yogurt (flavored, I'm sure) or cookies, goldfish, etc.
It says juice with both snacks. I don't see milk listed at all.
She did say it's a little different for the smaller kids, i.e. no nachos, no taco shells, and I assume they get milk. I don't see why there can't be two menus. How hard is that to print? Geez.
I'm most concerned about sugar and sodium. He WILL NOT be allowed to have juice. I'm putting my foot down about that.
I think I would deal with the poor food offerings by sending my own food. Invent a food allergy if you have to. I know that's not ethical and it makes light of serious allergies, but if it's the only way to have healthy food fed to your child, so be it.
Also, who provides the food? Is it made on site or is it through a school district? If so, you could potentially go to a higher up than the director. You may also face much more resistance.
The phone thing is ridiculous. Teachers should never be using their phones, period. That's a liability for the center and its owners, so they should be concerned.
In my search, I've definitely been thinking long term. We ultimately decided to go with a home daycare that we liked as opposed to a center, but I still considered what that would mean in 3-5 years.
They cook the food there in the kitchen and I will be bringing it up to the director along with the phone thing.
I think I THOUGHT I was thinking long term, but really I wasn't.
It doesn't help that the infant teacher has made it very clear that she doesn't like/approve of the teachers in the other toddler rooms.
I looked at the toddler room, but I had no idea what i was looking for. We didn't even bother touring the twos room! DD has a couple more months at least in the infant room, and I'll need to take another closer look before she transitions.
They don't provide food at my daycare, so the menu is a non-issue. I wish they did, but if they had the menu you're talking about, I'd be pissed too.