Assignment task:
I have worked in the ECE setting for many years, one day a parent came to my room and asked me if his child was being picked on by another boy and the class. This was close to the end of the year, and I did not recognize this parent. I asked him who he was he got a little upset. he was the biological father of this child and had never picked her up for my room before. I had to explain to the parent That my asking was only to protect his child. I then had to explain to the parent that at times the other child in question has challenging behaviors And children have gotten hit or kicked. The father then asked that I keep his daughter away from that child. I had to explain to the father that his daughter initiates play with this boy, they are not forced to be in groups or play together. She will ask him to play with her. He became upset saying he did not care; he did not want her playing with him. I explained that I would do my best and then maybe he needs to have a conversation with her, because I do not feel comfortable telling her that she cannot play with him if she asks him to play with her. The father became upset and said that he was going to remove her from my class and put her with another teacher; I explained that that was his choice and that he would need the mother to come in & papers since we have her listed as the custodial parent. He did not seem to like this and walked away. I called the mom and let her know about my conversation with the biological father, she said that this has never been an issue with this other boy in the class, and she did not know why he had this conversation.
This was my first real issue with a parent. I wasn't quite sure what their custody was or really anything about him in general, so I did not want to give him any information but I did want to reassure him that his child was safe. My director was new and was not working in the building yet, so I had to figure this out on my own. I don't think it went terrible, I still will not tell a child they cannot play with another child, but I will also not tell a child that they have to play with another child.
I need to give my opinion to Julia