Debra Hasbrook, M.Ed.
Debra Hasbrook, M.Ed.
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3/31/2015
A little boy, 4 yrs. old, sits curled up in the corner still wearing his coat. When he came in this morning he had a hard time leaving Dad. Yesterday he spent the day working with his Father. Today he doesn't understand why he has to come to school. He has been sitting there since he came in at 8:30 am. It is now 9:30 am. The teachers are busy around the room putting up bulletin boards and putting away breakfast. All of the other children are engaged and playing nicely. When asked what they were doing with this child, the teacher said they were just leaving him alone for a while because he was unhappy. No one had bothered to reach out to his little boy to find out what he needed. The director went to the child and asked if he would like to read a story with her. He walked with her quietly to the library and together they read stories. While they were reading stories he talked about why he was upset. After a little while she was able to get the coat, and engage him in an activity. The director asked the teachers to shadow him, and give him the support he needed for this day. Two hours later he was brought to the Directors office for aggressive behavior. After he calmed down she found out he was hungry. Breakfast was out when he arrived, but he was too upset to eat. She got him some crackers and milk and he was re-introduced to the classroom. Nap time came and the director was called in again because the child was throwing cots. The teachers had not shadowed him, because they said he seemed to be doing fine. This child needed the constant support and understanding of his teachers. Knowing that he was having a tough day, they should have been attentive and stayed close. Just because he was quiet, it did not mean he was ok. Children under stress will act out; it is a cry for help. Ultimately the parents were called to pick him up. Red flags are not just about meeting milestones, they are about staying alert to the needs of children on a daily basis. This child was in the middle of a CPS investigation and family re-entry. The teachers had taken the Respectful and Responsive training, they just didn’t follow through. Bulletin boards can wait, paperwork can wait, and cleaning can wait when you have a child who is in distress. Please be a responsive and caring teacher. |
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