When is it appropriate to terminate care?
I hear this question asked over and over again by providers. The answer is - always. It is always appropriate to terminate. The question that should be asked is what are those specifics you are unwilling to tolerate?
Personally, I have terminated a number of children each with their own reason for such a decision. I will terminate children of parents who refuse to follow policies. Knowingly sending a sick child to care, forgetting payment, repeated tardy pick ups, and general disrespect toward me, the children in my care, my family or my home will earn any parent in my care a nicely worded letter encouraging them to find alternate daycare for their child.
I have to spend all day with the children in my care as do the other children. If one child is a constant source of annoyance or frustration I must take the group into consideration and as such I am forced to terminate the source of our daily irritation. The other children in my care, my own children and I all deserve to exist in an environment that is stress-free and conducive to harmony; an ill-behaved or screaming child does not allow for that.
Many providers are wary of terminating a child because they confuse guilt with the fundamental responsibility of their job - to have the ever present care and concern of all the children at the forefront of every daycare decisions.
Daycare providers are business persons. There isn't a single business I can think of that would allow a customer to generate anxiety and tension in its other customers. Why then it is acceptable for one child to provoke these emotions in others in a daycare environment? The short answer is that it's not acceptable. It wasn't acceptable yesterday or the day before that and it certainly is not acceptable today. The other children deserve more.
Termination should not be a dirty word. I am upfront and speak about terminations openly with all my daycare clients. They are made aware that I will willingly terminate them or any other family for the aforementioned infractions. I believe this openness is fundamental to my daycare success. Parents don't contemplate breaking the rules because they understand the fate that violation will bring upon them. It's not complicated. The same parents also feel secure in the fact that my unreserved willingness to terminate will keep the environment pleasant for their child at all times. It's a win-win situation for all.
Allow yourself to feel good about getting out of bed in the morning. Give yourself and the other children in your care the gift of a happy, fun and harmonious atmosphere to learn and play in every day. Terminate those who hamper your efforts at providing a quality experience to all children. And once you hand over that termination letter you know what to say...........
.............NEXT!
For concerns, advice or suggestions I welcome your email at judytrickett@yahoo.ca
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