WWYD - Pre-School

[cabanafrau]

I would write a letter to all the other parents letting them know about what happened (in case they didn't get or haven't found the bottles). Then I'd move my child to another daycare.

I had to do something similar when DD19 was in preschool. I'm so quiet and polite--it was pretty shocking that I ended up with the daycare threatening to call the MPs on me if I didn't take my letters and leave.

OP writing letters opens her up as a lawsuit target. Remove child from preschool. Report actions and response to the licensing board.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Ok, I'm glad you guys are on the same page as me!
I did call yesterday, and spoke with the owner. Its a small private pre-school, only 3 classes, and there is one owner (she is also one of the teachers). I called, and left a message saying that we received some mini bottles of cough medicine in my sons backpack, and I was worried that it was ment for someone else. She called back about 15 minutes later, saying that they had these little sample bottles at the school for months now (I assume brought in by another parent), but she didn't know that "she" (don't know who the she was talking about, I assume one of the teachers helpers) was putting the meds in the backpacks, rather she thought it was just the samples of Nutella chocolate that they have been shoving in my kids backpack since before the new year.
She also went on to tell me that they were not dangerous at all because they are "all natural" blah blah blah. I don't know, its all really leaving a bad taste in my mouth - I don't like it at all. And I especially dont like the fact that she just tried to write it off my saying "Well, I'm sure he couldn't get the safty seal off, and even if he could, and drank all of the bottles, its all natural, so I'm sure he would be just fine."

I am usually very laid back, but this is not acceptable. Aside from the issue with this being medication which should never be put in the possession (or even reach) of children, it would not be OK with me for my child to be the middleman for someone's marketing and advertising. If you want to give out samples at the daycare, put them at the front desk where they can be offered to parents--don't send it home with the kids.

The fact that this was cough medicine takes it to a whole new level.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I guess I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I would have figured samples of something someone thought was a good product. Calling CPS? Outrageous.

I also do feel the kid should be able to speak up about not being able to have the ice cream. My 4 year old has a sensitivity to tomato products. He lets EVERYONE know that he cannot have pizza, spaghetti, ketchup, etc. If it's being served, even if it's not being served TO HIM, he lets you know that he can't have it. However, now that you have "freaked out about it" to the teacher...if they do give it to him again, I would be a little more vocal.

I think there is a lot of over reaction on this thread. If you don't want the sample, trash it. If you don't want your kid to have ice cream, tell him to speak up.

I think it might be asking a lot of a four-year-old to refuse ice cream! And even if your 4YO would refuse, it is still the day car provider's responsibility to deal with known allergies of children.

 

[shellybaxter]

As a preschool director I am appauled by this woman's attitude. Licensing is the correct agency to call - not CPS. I would remove the child from the school. In my state we would have broken regulations by even having the meds in the school for the children - natural- or not.

 

[caitlinsmom]

I would remove my child from the school and request a refund in writing. If they refuse a refund then I would remind them of the incidents mentioned in this post and tell them that if they do not refund your money you will need to discuss the situation with both CPS and the state licensing board.

My 11 year old is not even supposed to carry her own inhaler and this preschool thinks it's ok to put medicine in a much younger child's backpack. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Also, the dairy issue should be treated the same as any other food allergy and everyone who works there should know not to give it to him.

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks but no, not a troll! lol When we go to Disney again, all of my kids will be older, because we can't go again till the fall of 2013, hence yeah, they will be over 6.

So you're leaving your son at home when you go to Disney? You other post only mentions mother, father, & 2 daughters going to Disney.

 

[farmgirljen]

As a childcare provider, I would be very concerned about this. The fact that the woman was so flipant with her responses to you in regards to the medicine and the milk incidents bothers me alot. I would be wondering what are they giving my kid that I don't know about? food allergies and medications are not a place to be taken lightly with young children.

 

[Tiger926]

I guess I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I would have figured samples of something someone thought was a good product. Calling CPS? Outrageous.

I also do feel the kid should be able to speak up about not being able to have the ice cream. My 4 year old has a sensitivity to tomato products. He lets EVERYONE know that he cannot have pizza, spaghetti, ketchup, etc. If it's being served, even if it's not being served TO HIM, he lets you know that he can't have it. However, now that you have "freaked out about it" to the teacher...if they do give it to him again, I would be a little more vocal.

I think there is a lot of over reaction on this thread. If you don't want the sample, trash it. If you don't want your kid to have ice cream, tell him to speak up.

No over reaction at all. Medicine or chemicals of any kind should not be going home with students, period. Especially preschool students. And nothing should be sent home as marketing samples either. Not the place for that whatsover!

This kind of non-reaction is exactly why this school keeps doing this type of behaviour. I'm sure it has happened before, and will continue to happen until someone calls the licensing board.

And expecting young kids to go up against adults is ridiculous. The school has been told by the parent not to serve that food, and shouldn't. But there is also the point that the OP's son could have refused to eat that food, but perhaps he is very trusting, hungry or scared of the teacher?

I am usually very laid back, but this is not acceptable. Aside from the issue with this being medication which should never be put in the possession (or even reach) of children, it would not be OK with me for my child to be the middleman for someone's marketing and advertising. If you want to give out samples at the daycare, put them at the front desk where they can be offered to parents--don't send it home with the kids.

The fact that this was cough medicine takes it to a whole new level.

That level of dumb is downright dangerous.

No way would that level of dumb be watching my child.

Foxglove, for example, is natural. But I wouldn't want my kid eating it. And peanuts are natural, but there are some kids who could die from eating them. Seriously, this woman is an idiot and her idiocy is dangerous. I'd be outta there.

Good luck OP in taking this issue up with the licensing board, and finding a new preschool. And in the future, listen to your mom's intuition and if something feels wrong, take it up with the school immediately!

Tiger

 

[MinnieMouse824]

I spoke to one of the moms as I was picking up this afternoon. I asked her if she found the medicine in her kids backpack, and she said yes. She said she thought it was kinda strange that they were in there (and so many of them), but didn't really give it a second thought. Her comment was "It said they were all natural, so I guess they are OK." smh

 

[NHdisneylover]

I spoke to one of the moms as I was picking up this afternoon. I asked her if she found the medicine in her kids backpack, and she said yes. She said she thought it was kinda strange that they were in there (and so many of them), but didn't really give it a second thought. Her comment was "It said they were all natural, so I guess they are OK." smh

I honestly cannot understand why you sent him back today

I taught preschool for 6 years and did in home childcare another 2. I generally think parents on the DIS overreact 90% of the time. This is not one of those times. Putting medication (natural or otherwise) into the hands of the children (which the backpacks are) is very, very dangerous and wrong. Adding to that the attitude you got it does not seem to be a one teacher issue that is going to be dealt with.

I strongly urge you to follow the advice many have given here and remove your son from the school now as well as reporting this incident to the licensing board. I do not suggest you use the threat of a report to get a refund (as some suggest) you NEED to report in order to protect other children. Period.

 

[snowy76]

I honestly cannot understand why you sent him back today

I taught preschool for 6 years and did in home childcare another 2. I generally think parents on the DIS overreact 90% of the time. This is not one of those times. Putting medication (natural or otherwise) into the hands of the children (which the backpacks are) is very, very dangerous and wrong. Adding to that the attitude you got it does not seem to be a one teacher issue that is going to be dealt with.

I strongly urge you to follow the advice many have given here and remove your son from the school now as well as reporting this incident to the licensing board. I do not suggest you use the threat of a report to get a refund (as some suggest) you NEED to report in order to protect other children. Period.

What they did is downright ILLEGAL. I'm a teacher, and we can't even give a 16 year old girl some Motrin for her cramps without a parent coming to dispense it. We certainly can't send medicine home with kids!!

This preschool has no business looking after other people's kids if they're going to do such dumb things.

 

[Scurvy]

That level of dumb is downright dangerous.

No way would that level of dumb be watching my child.

Foxglove, for example, is natural. But I wouldn't want my kid eating it. And peanuts are natural, but there are some kids who could die from eating them. Seriously, this woman is an idiot and her idiocy is dangerous. I'd be outta there.

It would really bother me that they sent the medicine home like that. I would be uncomfortable with that and would probably say something to them about it, but I don't know that I'd pull my child from the school. The medicine itself would barely be a blip on my radar compared to the woman's reaction to the situation. I'd be afraid to trust my child with someone stupid enough to make the "it's natural" comment. There are plenty of deadly things that are all natural. There is no way on earth my child would be spending one more day in the care of those people after that comment and I'd be reporting them to anyone and everyone I could think of.

 

[StephMK]

I definitely fall into the more relaxed parenting camp and I would let someone in authority know & pull him out. I know it's hard when it's a place you generally love but the director cannot be not following licensing guidelines. It's not ok or professional to have meds going home in backpacks and making that comment about the ice cream.

Has she not seen a determined preschooler in action before? I know kids that can accomplish far more than getting a top off a bottle in a very short period of time. Please report this place before something eventually happens.

 

[clh2]

Why do people think "all natural" = safe?

Things that are all natural:
Hemlock
Poison Ivy
Marijuana (its a plant)
All other poisonous plants

Definitley a hi-jack here. ONe of my coworkers uses an "all-natural" hand sanitizer. The stuff smells NASTY. Really NASTY. She puts this stuff on her hands EVERY SINGLE time she gets back to her cube. UGGH.

Sometime I'm going to toss back to her (since this is a "smelling" issue, that the smell of a skunk's spray is all-naatural too!

Sorry - this is a sore spot with me.

OP - I owuld be a little un-nerved about this too.

 

[Erin1700]

I am sure there is at least one kid in the class whose parents have yet to look in their bag. Say something. Call the state and take your son out.

 

[HamTown]

When I taught preschool, we had a list of all food allergies/intolerances posted in each classroom. We had several peanut allergies, but chocolate and pineapple made the list too so it was a good reminder when we celebrated birthdays or holidays.

Also, if a parent had a food preference for their children (not the whole class) I would certainly make a note so that it would be accomodated.

The cough syrup thing is just weird. I agree with a PP that it's some sort of extra revenue for the school or one of the teachers. It should never be in a preschool.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I am also amazed at the preschool director's attitude! There should never be any kind of medicine anywhere near the kids in a preschool, including in their backpacks. Many of the kids in my class open their backpacks as soon as they leave the classroom. Most of the bus drivers have them leave their backpacks in the front of the bus, rather than taking them to their seats. They've spent too much time picking up clothes, lunchboxes and artwork that the kids scattered around during the bus ride. I can't imagine what they would do with a bottle of medicine!

In regards to the child getting ice cream, it's totally the adults' responsibility to keep it from him. I would never expect a 4-year old to monitor his own food sensitivities. How many adults sometimes sneak things that we know aren't good for us? How can we expect kids to do what we don't always do for ourselves? We have a list of food allergies near the snack table in our classroom. Kids generally eat only what they bring from home. If we have something special (like today's green cupcakes), we will refer to the list to see if anyone shouldn't have it.

 

[Lynne M]

I spoke to one of the moms as I was picking up this afternoon. I asked her if she found the medicine in her kids backpack, and she said yes. She said she thought it was kinda strange that they were in there (and so many of them), but didn't really give it a second thought. Her comment was "It said they were all natural, so I guess they are OK." smh

This is the part that floors me. Obviously, what the preschool did was illegal and has to be reported. But this other mom thought it was perfectly OK for someone to hand her child a bottle of some unknown medicine, without her permission? And just because the label on the bottle said it was 'natural', it must be harmless?



Do people really not know that kids drink cough syrup to get high these days? That an overdose of over-the-counter cough syrup like Robitussin can produce hallucinogenic effects similar to PCP and ketamine?

Someone could hand her kid a bottle of cough syrup with codeine, an opiate, and say it was 'natural'. And they would be telling the truth, it comes from poppy flowers. Would that be OK with her, too, because it was 'natural?

Sheesh.

 

[npmommie]

something is funny

 

[leebee]

People often assume that "natural" equals "safe," when there is really no way to know. Echinacea and golden seal are homeopathic remedies often taken for relief of colds and respiratory distress. Unfortunately, I learned, the hard way, that I am allergic to both. The doctor who treated me in the ER said allergic reactions to golden seal are NOT uncommon, but that most people don't realize that this can happen. Hmmmm... kids bringing home cough medicine that's "all natural?" Time for a few phone calls to the licensing facility, AND a new preschool.