Day care gives granddad wrong boy

[kwelch10377]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41662466/ns/us_news/

There are just so many things wrong with this story. I don't understand how the granddad didn't know that the kid was the wrong one and the kid was 3, I would think that he would be old enough to say that he didn't know the person that he was going with.

I am going to assume that there is a lot more to this story that isn't included in the article.

 

[kellyg403]

I am speechless in more ways than one? Seriously granddad?

Kelly

 

[horseshowmom]

I wonder whether the child was all bundled up for cold weather maybe? That wouldn't be a good enough excuse for me, but that might explain why he didn't recognize his own grandchild. He's not ever going to live this down.

That said, that daycare has some serious explaining to do (and I doubt that he would be picking up my child anymore)...

 

[lillygator]

I don't get it....wouldn't you say I am here to pick up john smith - especially if you were the one who did the normal picking up? did he just point to a kid and say oh that one is my grandson?

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I wonder whether the child was all bundled up for cold weather maybe? That wouldn't be a good enough excuse for me, but that might explain why he didn't recognize his own grandchild. He's not ever going to live this down.

That said, that daycare has some serious explaining to do (and I doubt that he would be picking up my child anymore)...

You are right! He will never live this down, and it will be a funny story one day in the future, but it could have been a disaster. The daycare better be counting their lucky stars that nothing happened to the child. I am sure someone will lose their job for this, and they should.

Now if this had happened to my child, that would have been his last day at that daycare, and the granddaddy would no longer be picking him up.

 

[Jeniferdwn]

HMMMM.......this is totally weird!!! My kids wouldn't ever have left with a stranger! And the grandparent not recognizing his own grandkids? hmmmm.....

 

[kellyg403]

I wonder whether the child was all bundled up for cold weather maybe? That wouldn't be a good enough excuse for me, but that might explain why he didn't recognize his own grandchild. He's not ever going to live this down.

That said, that daycare has some serious explaining to do (and I doubt that he would be picking up my child anymore)...

OK, I will go with this explanation. I bet mom and dad are talking about stranger danger in a big way today.

At first I was speechless, then I was like 'wow', now I am like 'wonder if it could have happened to one of my kids'... I definitely had one that never met a stranger, no matter how much talking. So she would have done this probably...especially since granddad was probably talking all nice and everything. I can see my dd sitting in the back seat thinking who is this guy and why is mom sending him to pick me up. and then saying 'hey can we stop for ice cream?'


Kelly

 

[horseshowmom]

OK, I will go with this explanation. I bet mom and dad are talking about stranger danger in a big way today.

At first I was speechless, then I was like 'wow', now I am like 'wonder if it could have happened to one of my kids'... I definitely had one that never met a stranger, no matter how much talking. So she would have done this probably...especially since granddad was probably talking all nice and everything. I can see my dd sitting in the back seat thinking who is this guy and why is mom sending him to pick me up. and then saying 'hey can we stop for ice cream?'


Kelly

I saw a program (Oprah, I think) that was astonishing concerning kids going with strangers. These were kids whose parents had taken a great deal of time working with them regarding that very issue. It was very eye opening...

ETA: I checked the weather for Cleveland last Thursday (I believe that was the day it happened), and it said this - It will be another cold morning today with sub-zero wind chills. Highs will only reach the mid-teens.

Maybe the child really was all bundled up. It's in the 50's today. Maybe they can reach an agreement where Grandpa picks him up on warm days only.

 

[smb6]

Something similar happened at my son's preschool years ago. A grandad came into pick up grandson. All the kids were asleep on their mats (nap is at end of day/2pm pickup). The grandad grabbed the wrong child! (the child was sleeping, so I can kinda see how it happened). Then a mom came to pick up her son and he was no where to be found. They realized the grandad had picked up the wrong child! I was not involved, so it is kind of funny to think about now that many years have passed. It definately could have went bad and is a scary thought.......

 

[minkydog]

I'm still hung up on the fact that granddad didn't even recognise his own grandchild. I mean, does the guy have early dementia? I put this solely at the feet of the daycare center. They are the gatekeepers. They should have checked his ID against their records of approved picker-uppers. The whole situation was completely preventable.

i don't think it is at all unusual that a 3yr old would go off with a strange man. Children are not as discerning about strangers as most parents like to think. In a childs mind, an adult is always in charge and it is an extremely rare 3yo who would be able to stand up against an adult who is intent on taking them somewhere. Heck, sometimes even teenagers have trouble with this concept.

 

[tlbwriter]

i don't think it is at all unusual that a 3yr old would go off with a strange man. Children are not as discerning about strangers as most parents like to think. In a childs mind, an adult is always in charge and it is an extremely rare 3yo who would be able to stand up against an adult who is intent on taking them somewhere. Heck, sometimes even teenagers have trouble with this concept.

This is one reason why concentrating on "stranger danger" can do more harm than good. To a 3-yr-old, a "stranger" is basically the boogie man - someone weird and scary. The nice man who asks if you will help him look for his puppy is not a "stranger." And if your teacher tells you to leave with a kind-looking older man, he isn't a "stranger" either. It's more important to teach kids about bad situations, not bad people. If this little boy was taught to always obey his teacher, no matter what, he would have done just that. If he was taught to speak up in uncomfortable or uncertain situations, he would have been more likely to say "I don't know this man you're calling my grandfather."

 

[kt_mom]

This is one reason why concentrating on "stranger danger" can do more harm than good. To a 3-yr-old, a "stranger" is basically the boogie man - someone weird and scary. The nice man who asks if you will help him look for his puppy is not a "stranger." And if your teacher tells you to leave with a kind-looking older man, he isn't a "stranger" either. It's more important to teach kids about bad situations, not bad people. If this little boy was taught to always obey his teacher, no matter what, he would have done just that. If he was taught to speak up in uncomfortable or uncertain situations, he would have been more likely to say "I don't know this man you're calling my grandfather."

I agree 100% Its important to teach kids to be respectful of adults but also feel comfortable speaking up if something doesn't feel right.

I think our kids can easily be confused by conflicting information. Mom says don't talk to strangers, but my teacher who I'm supposed to obey says go with this nice old man.

 

[Hannathy]

I would say the old apple doesn't fall far from the tree hold up here! I'm sorry but I don't see genius IQ from either one of the the grandfather or the child. HE was 3 not 3 months! how can he not know that wasn't his grandfather? and he not know his grandson? If it was the first time he had ever met the child I doubt it would be picking him up from daycare.

3 is old enough to know not to go with someone you don't know, that child and I would be having a serious conversation!

 

[tiggger1]

I would say the old apple doesn't fall far from the tree hold up here! I'm sorry but I don't see genius IQ from either one of the the grandfather or the child. HE was 3 not 3 months! how can he not know that wasn't his grandfather? and he not know his grandson? If it was the first time he had ever met the child I doubt it would be picking him up from daycare.

3 is old enough to know not to go with someone you don't know, that child and I would be having a serious conversation!

see... my 3 year old wouldn't have said anything, he has a speech delay and would have cried before he said anything because he doesnt talk to people he doesnt know..

 

[kwelch10377]

I would say the old apple doesn't fall far from the tree hold up here! I'm sorry but I don't see genius IQ from either one of the the grandfather or the child. HE was 3 not 3 months! how can he not know that wasn't his grandfather? and he not know his grandson? If it was the first time he had ever met the child I doubt it would be picking him up from daycare.

3 is old enough to know not to go with someone you don't know, that child and I would be having a serious conversation!

The only thing I can really think of is this was maybe they haven't seen each other in awhile, the kid has changed and grown since the grandpa last saw them and the kid doesn't remember what the grandpa looks like. But then you want to ask yourself why would he be picking up the kid if he hadn't seen him in a while.

I really wish they would have added more to the story as to why the kid/grandpa didn't know what each other looked like. If they were going to publish it they should have included a lot more info or not published it at all.

 

[mhsjax]

I would say the old apple doesn't fall far from the tree hold up here! I'm sorry but I don't see genius IQ from either one of the the grandfather or the child. HE was 3 not 3 months! how can he not know that wasn't his grandfather? and he not know his grandson? If it was the first time he had ever met the child I doubt it would be picking him up from daycare.

3 is old enough to know not to go with someone you don't know, that child and I would be having a serious conversation!

Sorry to say, but my oldest had a speech delay. He wasn't able to say much at all. Yes he would have cried, but he couldn't say anything. So good luck with having that conversation. Good Lord the child is 3 not 13. And guess what, my kid is close to genius IQ thank you. Your posts can be very abrasive.

It is very common for boys to have speech delays, and in fact, this often equals a higher IQ in math and science, because language is the other part of the brain and it is a little slower.

 

[Hannathy]

see... my 3 year old wouldn't have said anything, he has a speech delay and would have cried before he said anything because he doesnt talk to people he doesnt know..

yes but even crying is communicating something is wrong! It is the first form of communicating something is wrong in animal.

and not talking also may have clued someone into something being wrong and I hope he would have balked at being taken out by a person he didn't know.

 

[mhsjax]

yes but even crying is communicating something is wrong! It is the first form of communicating something is wrong in animal.

and not talking also may have clued someone into something being wrong and I hope he would have balked at being taken out by a person he didn't know.

Yes he would have. But some kids are so easy going that they may not have. I blame the Grandfather and the day care center.

 

[Hannathy]

Sorry to say, but my oldest had a speech delay. He wasn't able to say much at all. Yes he would have cried, but he couldn't say anything. So good luck with having that conversation. Good Lord the child is 3 not 13. And guess what, my kid is close to genius IQ thank you. Your posts can be very abrasive.

It is very common for boys to have speech delays, and in fact, this often equals a higher IQ in math and science, because language is the other part of the brain and it is a little slower.

like I told the other poster I don't care if he can't talk he should have protested in some way. cry, scream sit down kick something you don't co complacently with someone you don't know. And just because they can't speak you can still talk to them intake of language is always ahead of speech. they can absorb more even if they can't say it back to you. You can still talk with them and teach them.

 

[jodifla]

like I told the other poster I don't care if he can't talk he should have protested in some way. cry, scream sit down kick something you don't co complacently with someone you don't know. And just because they can't speak you can still talk to them intake of language is always ahead of speech. they can absorb more even if they can't say it back to you. You can still talk with them and teach them.

Not if they have a severe receptive language delay, like my son does. You are making lots of assumptions, and basing everything on your own children's reactions.

In fact, there's a lot of delayed children out there who might not been able to protest.