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I have a daycare parent that takes all the credit for her daughters achievements. When I mention something she has done successfully here she always says "oh yes, she's been doing that at home for a long time". We don't sit in front of the boob tube all day lady, the kids actually learn things here too. LOL
I agree with the others. Like Dream, my son took his first steps at daycare and his provider told me...I went home and cried :( I wished she hadn't told me. I am now very careful not to tell parents if a child hits a big milestone like that for the first time with me. In fact, I have a little guy who didn't walk until 19 months, but when he finally did it, he did it here with me (I really worked on it with him). I just hinted to the parents that he seems really ready and they might want to give it a try that evening. The parents sent me an elated email with a video attached of their child walking. They said they had a feeling he had done it already with me, but that I wanted it to be their moment. They were really really happy. I wouldn't have wanted to take away from that moment.
I really keep it on the DL if any milestones happen here. When presented with a comment like the one in the original post, I smile and say, "oh that's great. We've been practicing". If they push further, I wouldn't lie, but they never do. :D
My sister in law took care of my first daughter when she was tiny while I went to work. My daughter took her first steps while at my sis in law's house. Sis in law didn't tell me until last year. My daughter is 13! :laugh:
I wouldn't count saying the ABC's as a "milestone"....unles s it was their first words or steps etc. I would do the "we've been practicing" line but otherwise I'd say nothing until the parents found out on their own.
Put yourself in the shoes of the parents who know they are missing out on so much. I also make sure they take their first steps at home or whatever the case may be before I make any announcements.
The great clients are the ones who come in and say "Have you been practicing the abc's because dckid said them last night"? Those are the golden clients who know we are working hard to teach their child and it's paying off and are actually giving us the credit. That happened to me last week and I almost fell over. Usually it's the way you described and they think they taught their child.