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"touching" by preschool teachers?

dani211dani211
in Special Needs

Hi Everyone,

Ok, this is a strange question, but I have to ask:

Yesterday, we went to tour our first preschool option. We all liked the school, and the children we saw seemed engaged and seemed to respond well to their teacher and aids (it was a class of 8 kids, all special ed). Now, the lead teacher did a lot of "touching" of the students. It was right in front of me, and it was always in the context of soothing/calming them, like patting their head or squeezing their shoulders. It reminded me of stuff I've seen our physical therapists do with Mia, and the kids seemed to respond well to it and to him. I just thought I'd double check here though. Is "touching" like that in preschool okay? Personally, I teach high school, and it would be a cold day in hell before I'd lay a finger on any student. But obviously a school setting like this is different.  . .

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Re: "touching" by preschool teachers?

  • MainelyFoolishMainelyFoolish member
    My DD just finished her second year of preschool and her teachers were all very open with hugs, pats, and similar gestures. My DD would frequently run up to her teacher and give her a big hug before leaving for the day. My DD craves physical contact like that; it would have been so sad to me if she'd attended a preschool that didn't have that level of interaction between teachers and students.

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  • Rachel SonnierRachel Sonnier member
    I know exactly what you mean. I went from teaching at a university, to teaching 5th grade at a very family oriented private school, and the first time a student hugged me I was like, "Uhhh, what??"
    However, I really think it is appropriate for young children. Many don't have the personal space thing going on yet, and they touch everyone and expect some level of affection from adults. I actually have been thinking about this topic also, as we get my son ready to start preschool in August. He touches and needs quite a bit of touching, and help that will require touching, because of some motor and sensory issues. I am really hoping that his teacher won't be afraid to touch him. I think things will go much more smoothly if she is somewhat affectionate towards her students. Especially since, he will definitely touch her, and everyone else in the classroom. Lol
    As far as I can tell, around junior high this sort of thing decreases dramatically, and like you said, there would be no way on Earth a student would touch you, or you them. Changing classes, as in jonior high and high school, also presents a very different dynamic than when you have the same kids all day, all year long. Especially with small children that count on you for care, band aids, fixing bows, navigating disagreements with peers, etc.
    I wouldn't let that change my mind about the school, if you liked it otherwise.
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  • dani211dani211
    Ok good- thank you! I just needed that reassurance that it is okay. It seemed okay to me, and the kids were clearly responding well (including my own daughter). I just wanted to make sure that this sort of thing is accepted practice.  
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  • Happy2bNappyHappy2bNappy member
    I like the fact that the teachers at my son's daycare/preschool are very hands-on. DS starts public preschool in August and this was one of my biggest worries (being from a different country I was not sure what "public preschool" is like) until I toured the school and saw that it was pretty much the same, there was a little girl sitting on the aide's lap while she read to the kids. I like the fact that if DS is upset about something there is that reassuring hug or pat on the head. If DS has an "owee" if you rub it it makes it all better for him :-)
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  • d.fd.f member

    My son spent a good part of carpet time in a teacher's lap the first year of preschool.  If it was his OT or SpEd teacher she was probably rubbing his back or squeezing his arms/shoulders to provide deep pressure input.  If he wasn't in a lap he was in a weighted vest to provide what he needed to function at that time.  His need decreased by his second year and so did my observations of him in a lap or weighted vest.

    Now they did have to teach my DS "thumb kisses" (touching thumbs and making a kiss sound) so he would stop trying to constantly kiss them all. 

    DS 09/2008

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  • jadweddjadwedd member
    I am a preschool teacher and I am always hugging and loving my kids.  The teachers who do not hug their kids are usually pretty cold and the children don't do well.  It is normal where I work (I have a class with 26 4 year old and 2 aides) to see a child snuggling with someone if they are having a bad day or just need some love.  I can tell you that I love every child like they were mine and I know that it is a long day for them to go so long with no love when they are so little.  I actually had to teach them to not give me running hugs when I got pregnant.  It is normal in a younger grade, I would be upset if no one was hugging in that age.  There is no kissing, we tell them to save the kisses for mommy (but I had one Romeo who would kiss the top of all his teacher's and aide's hands!)
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  • missmisswilliamsmissmisswilliams member
    I am a preschool special education teacher and I definitely touch my kids a ton. Lots of lap sitting, shoulder squeezes and other specific sensory strategies. I would feel very cold using a hands off approach.
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